Rumspringa - Ein Amish in Berlin

It's a comedy set in 2022, mainly in Berlin, Germany, with a few scenes in Pennsylvania. It follows an Amish teenager, with his family's blessing, taking his rumspringa time in Germany.

Jacob Hostetler (Jonas Holdenrieder) is the hapless Amish lad sent to Germany along with the Hostetler's family Bible. After his rumspringa, he must find some distant German Mennonite Hostetler relatives to learn more about his ancestry. However, when he arrives at the airport in Berlin and hails a taxi, through a mixup, Jacob loses his money, belongings, and Bible as he politely allows a young woman to have the cab.

Jacob wanders Berlin's streets until he sees a young man he initially thinks is Amish because of his suspenders, beard, and lack of mustache. He follows Alf (Timur Bartels) around until finally, Alf offers him a place to stay for a short time. Alf is an architecture student preparing for a major exam. Jacob meets Alf's roommate, Bo (Rauand Taleb), and Alf's girlfriend, Freja (Tijan Marei). He also eventually meets the young woman who had left in the cab with his possessions. Ina (Gizem Emre) is an artist and becomes Jacob's romantic interest.

The film follows Jacob's introduction to European culture and the response of his new friends to Jacob's simpler approach to life. Eventually, Jacob needs to decide whether to return from rumspringa to Pennsylvania.

"Rumspringa" has some positive aspects. Alf, Freja, and Ina appreciate aspects of Jacob's culture and background. Some of the cross-cultural humor is funny, but some veers closer to mocking Amish naiveté. It's a thin line as Jacob's list of the "sins" he has committed--ranging from roller skating to sex--becomes a valuable piece of art. There is little attempt at Amish accuracy, but that's not the point in a German comedy. One wonders if this kind of comedy would be made of other visible conservative minority groups. But some of it was funny.

Such a refreshing opportunity for this Gay Dutch woman born in Reading Pennsylvania way back in the 1940's .This Berliner slant on an Amish male young adult spending his Rumspringa year "sowing wild oats" prior to committing / or not committing to a life of the Plain People of Lancaster County in the Pennsylvania Dutch Country is a sweet film.

The viewer has an insider look at the fashionable cynicism of the young, coddled and privileged generation surrounding us almost everywhere. As this film moves forward many of the Old Amish ways give a framework of honesty and openness to the characters trying to make jest of The Rumspringa , Jacob. This film is enjoyable on many levels and this outsider American viewer found a deep respect for Amish Values in this German made film.

Carve out time in 2024 America to see Rumspringa, You could think about honestly and expressing feelings in your own contemporary life. Take a chance and check out this film.

I found this movie refreshing and sweet.

It makes you reflect one what truly matters in life.

It makes us see the dysfunctional society we live in and how some folks live so simply with a good heart.

I liked this movie a lot.

Okay, so at times it was corny, unrealistic and not overly deep, but I enjoyed this film nonetheless. The bit of insight into Amish culture was intriguing and, as a German speaker, the language differences between Pennsylvania "Dutch" and modern, slangy German were fun.

There were some tender and emotional moments, and it was cool to see heterosexual male characters comfortably expressing genuine affection in a way that didn't seem forced. There are no politics here, no sides to choose, nothing but humans trying to make their way in a confusing world.

At a time when cynicism holds so much sway, it felt refreshing to watch an open-hearted film with likable characters.

The objective part of me rated this movie a 6, but my more sentimental side would have added a star or two.

You won't roll over from laughing with this movie but it's certainly good enough to entertain a lot of people. There are a couple of good funny scenes, mostly due to the ignorance of the Amish boy. He's world strange and discovers everything he's normally not allowed to, on his Rumspringa. They could have made it funnier but it's still good enough for me. The acting was quite good and that from the entire cast. The ratings on here are a bit low in my humble opinion, but maybe it's just me, well my wife and me then because she liked it as well. Worth a watch if you just want something simple and entertaining.