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The Rat King

"Der Rattenkönig" is a real gem among the slew of trivial adolescent films. In glowing black and white pictures, Pawel Kocambasi tells a story about three boys and the puzzling phase between the last milk tooth and the first braces. Despite the precise and reserved portrayal, Kocambasi and his cameraman Jens Harant managed to tinge the brilliant images with a gentle melancholy. In addition to Kocambasi, who graduated from the Ludwigsburg Film Academy, the real discoveries in the film are the three young actors, who give their characters great depth with seeming affected. (Cologne Conference 2002)

  • Pawel Kocambasi
    Director
  • Pawel Kocambasi
    Writer
  • Matthias Pacht
    Writer
  • Carsten Bunte
    Producer
  • Laszlo Horwitz
    Key Cast
    "Jani"
  • Ivo Möller
    Key Cast
    "Raffi"
  • Clemens Brandt
    Key Cast
    "Luki"
  • Marie-Lou Sellem
    Key Cast
  • Henry Thoma
    Key Cast
  • Charlotte Crome
    Key Cast
    "Charlotte "
  • Thomas Huber
    Key Cast
  • Heinz W. Krückenberg
    Key Cast
  • Janina Uhse
    Key Cast
  • Samuel Weiss
    Key Cast
  • Jörg Lemberg
    Music
  • Hessischer Rundfunk
    Production
  • SWR
    Production
  • Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg
    Production
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Der Rattenkönig
  • Project Type:
    Feature
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 25 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    July 4, 2002
  • Country of Origin:
    Germany
  • Country of Filming:
    Germany
  • Language:
    German
  • Shooting Format:
    s16
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - filmakademie baden-württemberg
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • Cologne Conference
    Cologne
    Germany
    July 4, 2002
    Deutschland Premiere
  • Caligari Award
    ludwigsburg
Director Biography - Pawel Kocambasi

Pawel Kocambasis films include the shorts "Schlagzeuger" (1996), "Śmierć" (1997), "Stille Nacht" (1998), "Zwei" (1999), Hofer Filmtage and Camerimage; and the features "Der Rattenkoenig" (2003), winner of the Caligari Award for the best script, Cologne Conference, nominated for the German Television Award, "Tiger" (2006), Filmfest München, winner of the Biberach Filmfestival 2006, "Theatre Without Audience" (2015), premiered on the Volksbühne in Berlin, BEST EUROPEAN FILM at the Hollywood Indie Film Awards (2025), "4 m@xime" (2022), "The Friendly Society" (2024) and "The Prophetess" (2025)

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