Trick or Treaters (2007) User Reviews

Succeeds in all areas

[Horst_In_Translation · 8/10 · 4 May 2015]

This 8-year-old movie is a great example of what many more movies should be. Animation films from Germany are a bit of a rarity, so it's refreshing to see one that works so well. It only runs for 75 minutes, but has a cast with a couple very well-known German actors, such as Charly Hübner, Katharina Thalbach, Joachim Król and a member of the German punk rock band "Die Ärzte". Parts of the film, very early and very late, are narrated by Tomi Ungerer, the author of the book this is based on. It's a bit sad he was not featured more in this film as his voice is a delight to listen to. The film's director and writer is Hayo Freitag, who also directed the "Käpt'n Blaubär" movie before that. He got help with the adaptation of Ungerer's work from one of the writer who also worked on "Goodbye Lenin". And Freitag's voice is also to hear in "Die drei Räuber".

The story is not too spectacular. A little girl without parents is supposed to be moved to an orphanage, but gets (in a friendly manner) abducted by three robbers. They are not the antagonists here. In fact, this role goes to the headmistress of the orphanage (voiced as competently as always by Thalbach). As the girl is not there right away, we follow the lives of two other orphans who are directly confronted with the evil headmistress, who forces the kids into child labor. The girl teaches the robbers a couple things, especially a lesson on friendship and as reward, she finally has some people in her life who care for her, so she is no longer all on her own. I really liked the voice work in this movie, also the one from the girl. There is something truly unique about this movie, but it is difficult to exactly put a finger on it. One reason may be the excellent animation which adds so much to this movie. It is not modern at all, but fits the tone perfectly. The music is spot-on as well. The script is smart and includes a couple funny plays on words. And not only the words are funny, also the action is on very many occasions, such as a scene about a speeding ticket for a snail. The humor is not new in general (opposites fast and snail), but the way they executed it in detail, is very refreshing.

Even if the three robbers look like KKK members in black outfits, this is a film which is also suitable for very young audiences. There is a whole lot of heart and charm inside this one and I highly recommend it. It is virtually impossible not to feel for the little girl and her struggle with loneliness. The scene where they show her the wanted poster is so sad as she fears she will lose her new friends again. If you enjoyed this film, let me also recommend you "Der Mondmann". It is also by Tomi Ungerer and Thalbach and Kreil (the actress who voices the little girl) return for it. Also the style is very similar. But back to "Die drei Räuber": This is a film that oozes creativity and it is an absolute delight to watch.

Truly amazing classic tale for both children and grown-ups

[agifarkas · 10/10 · 29 August 2008]

This animated film is one of the best I've seen recently, and there've been quite a lot which deserve praise (Horton, Kung-fu Panda, Wall-e etc.). Of course, this one is a far cry from the 3D-technique which is increasingly becoming a tradition now. The animation is as classical as the story line, and though the narrative elements are quite well-known (the little orphan girl who gets "kidnapped"; the three robbers, scary on the outside but in fact warmhearted, the cruel, suppressive lady as head of the orphanage, etc.), they are put together in a truly genuine way to create a tale which is enchanting for children and adults alike.

The success lies in the details of both the story and the resulting composition. I must mention the music of the film, which is so classical and at the same time really original, making the whole experience just even more enjoyable; the song of the robbers fits so inherently that you have the impression that if any robber wants to seem real, they can never sing anything else. The humour is also excellent, the colours sometimes extraordinarily bright and vivid. And though this is not a tale intended to provide multiple-layer meanings to exploit, there are some deeper levels, but these are left entirely for the audience to decipher, the story doesn't force them. The details accumulate and each one manages to take the movie one step further.

It is topped by a queer, bizarre, almost surreal ending, but it is so smoothly integrated into the development of the story, that it is not in the least too scary for children - not any scarier than, for example, the animated version of Snow White and the 7 dwarfs was.

At certain moments, I was reminded of Les Triplettes de Belleville, both in terms of the animation and the slightly peculiar atmosphere of especially the orphanage scenes. And though Les Triplettes was originally made for adults (and brilliantly for that), this film is thoroughly enjoyable for children, as well. I was sitting in a room half packed with adults, half with children, and both groups were giving out hearty laughs, most of the time simultaneously.

If you want to return to your childhood world of tales, or you'd like your children to know such stories not only from bedtime readings but also from the big screen, or if you just like tales as they are by definition, I can only recommend this little gem. It's an absolute 10.