Synopsis

Emil travels to Berlin to deliver money to his grandmother, but a suspicious stranger drugs him on the train and steals it. Determined to recover the cash, Emil follows the thief through the city and joins forces with a resourceful group of local children. Their improvised investigation leads them through Berlin's streets, stations and landmarks in a fast-moving adventure about courage, teamwork and friendship.

Factoids & Trivia

• The film is a modern adaptation of Erich Kastner's 1929 children's novel, relocating the story's classic detective adventure to contemporary Berlin.

• Berlin serves as a major visual presence. Locations include Zoologischer Garten station, the Oberbaum Bridge, the Schlesisches Tor subway station, the Brandenburg Gate, Museum Island, the Kulturforum and the Hotel Adlon.

• Several scenes set in the fictional small town of Streiglitz were filmed in Elstal, Brandenburg.

• The production used Berlin's yellow subway trains prominently, including the elevated section of Line 1 through Kreuzberg.

• The film was recognized by a children's jury at the 2001 German Children's Film and Television Festival, where it won the Goldener Spatz for Best Feature.

• It also received the 2002 Bavarian Film Award for Best Screenplay.

• Emil und die Detektive is one of several screen adaptations of Kastner's novel. Earlier versions were made in Germany, Britain, Argentina, Japan, Brazil and the United States.