Toyland
Seen it?2007 | 13 min | Drama, War
Weeknight Watchearly ratingWhy it’s a Weeknight Watch
With almost no lasting buzz and soft box office, it's a mixed bag. Fine if it's on; don't plan your night around it.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Aimed squarely at history and war-film fans and anyone interested in what war does to ordinary people. It puts you in the middle of the fighting, and doesn't let you forget the cost. Sits nicely alongside Civil War or Thank You for Your Service.
- The mood
- Intense.
- The pace
- Quiet, then quietly devastating, at 13 min. The story isn't told in order, so keep your phone down.
- What might put you off
- It's in German, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
- Skip it if you need something light and fast tonight.
On a winter morning, a mother goes to waken her son Heinrich; his bed is empty. She leaves her flat to find him. The neighbors' door, with a Star of David painted on it, is ajar, the furnishings in disarray, the family gone. She asks passersby, runs to the police then on to the rail yard. Flashbacks show that Heinrich and the neighbors' son Paul are six years old and best friends. Paul's family's deportation is expected soon; Heinrich's mother tells her son that they're going to Toyland. Heinrich wants to go with them, has a bag packed, and listens for their departure. His mother realizes he's joined them, and her resolve becomes more urgent. Will she arrive in time to save Heinrich?
How it earned its rating
- CriticsNot counted
Not enough reviews on record yet
- AudiencesNot counted
Not measured yet: not enough ratings
- AwardsSolid
Won 1 Oscar: Best Live Action Short Film.
- Reach & staying powerBelow par
Streaming release that reached a small audience so far; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactWeak
About 5K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Jochen Alexander Freydank
- Julia JägerMarianne
- Cedric EichHeinrich
- David C. BunnersObersturmführer
- Torsten MichaelisHerr Silbertein
- Claudia HübschmannFrau Silberstein
- Gregor WeberSS-Mann Werner
- Jürgen TrottSchutzpolizist
- Klaus-Jürgen SteinmannBlockwart
- Matthias PaulGestapo Mann
- Johanna PenskiHausmeisterin (uncredited)