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SYNOPSIS
Script writer Henry Lehnbach stumbles from one hapless love affair to the next, and professionally
speaking, his life has hit the doldrums, too: He writes the TV-series „The Forest Warden from the
Spreewald“. His unsettled way of life and his chaotic work performance drive Henry's (female) agent
to the edge of a nervous breakdown. All the more surprising that he receives a sensational offer: He
is intended as co-writer for the film version of a bestselling book. This assignment is owing to the
writer of the original novel: Katharina Meese is not only Henry's Ex, but also the love of his life.
Katharina's wish to have children had led to the split between them. But since she now insists on his
collaboration, Henry is apparently getting a second chance. Working together with Katharina gets
Henry's life back on track – until one day eight-year-old Magdalena pops up at his door and declares,
that she is supposed to live with him until further notice. Henry hardly knows what hit him. A
message from Magdalena's mother, Charlotte Walser, clears the situation, but makes it nothing
easier: Magdalena is supposedly Henry's daughter – the aftereffect of a long-forgotten one night stand
with Charlotte. The child's mother and her compnay have to face charges in New York and
therefore she can't look after Magdalena for a while. Henry is totally taken aback. Charlotte's
husband Tristan, who for eight years thought that he was the girl's father, has similar feeelings:
Because of this new situation he is separated from Charlotte.
To become a father helter skelter isn't easy, even less so when at the same time you have to write
the book of a lifetime and win back the love of your life. Henry cannot count on the support of the
deeply wounded Tristan, so he has no choice but to care for the innocent Magdalena. Now the word
is to get up early, prepare a healthy breakfast, check homework and read stories out loud. Henry
starts to like his role as a father. He gets a grip on his household: For him the well-being of his child
comes first. But again and again, Magdalena asks about her parents. Henry finally has to make a clean
sweep. He decides to tell Magdalena, who her biological father is. And Katharina needs to know that
the kid is not some neighbour's daughter. But as so often in Henry's life, the right moment for an
explanatory conversation never seems to come along, and pretty soon, the situation is a complete
shambles. Since Tristan in the meantime is trying to get back in contact with Magdalena, and is
coming to terms with Charlotte as well, Henry is in danger of losing the girl at the precise moment
where he has started to love her. Katharina uncovers the deception on her own; disappointed, she
ends the collaboration as well as all private contacts with Henry. Henry summons up his courage: He
fights for time together with his daughter. But he also has to prove to Katharina that his love for her
is sincere…
ABOUT THE PRODUCTION
Scriptwriter and producer Béla Jarzyk („Reine Formsache“) was until a few years ago the manager of
the talent agency “Players” and Til Schweiger's agent. Early in 2010 he offered the first draft of
„Kokowääh“ (= Coq au vin) to Schweiger: His subject matter, conceived as a drama, tells of a little
girl who as a „cuckoo child“ has to deal with two fathers. „We thought the idea was wonderful“,
states producer Tom Zickler, who for years has, alongside Schweiger, led production company
Barefoot Films. „And since little Emma Schweiger has delighted audiences in ‚Rabbit Without Ears‘
and ‚Rabbit Without Ears 2’, we immediately imagined her as Magdalena. But we had the impression
that Béla's story would work even better as a comedy. Our approach to that was similar as with
‚Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door‘: Basically, the story is very sad, but audiences perceived the film as a
For further information:
Beta Cinema Press, Dorothee Stoewahse, Tel: + 49 89 67 34 69 15, Mobile: + 49 170 63 84 627
press@betafilm.com, www.betacinema.com.
Pictures and filmclips available on ftp.betafilm.com, username: ftppress01, password: 8uV7xG3tB
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