Oskars Kleid (2022) Movie Script
1
- Morning.
- Morning.
They'll be puking in the
train toilets by Frankfurt.
Next is the security conference.
The inventor of those e-scooters
actually died on an e-scooter.
You look like shit.
We won't get you off the market like that.
It's about time, isn't it?
HONEY
Are you serious? She's
still saved as "honey."
Yeah, I don't... It's just...
- Mira?
- After a year and a half?
You're where?
Oh my, how are you?
What are you doing?
- Ben, I told you not to come.
Why didn't you call earlier?
- I knew you'd freak out.
Everything's fine.
I might have... I got a little
carried away doing the salsa.
The salsa...
I'm in preterm labor. I'm supposed
to stay in bed until I give birth.
I'm freaking out already.
Pass me the TheraBand.
That stupid dance.
- It's no longer your problem, Ben.
Now what?
Now I'm trying to convince them
that I could be at home. But
it's like talking to a brick wall.
No I mean, what about the kids?
Diego's taking care of
them. Everything's all right.
Diego?
Gosh, Ben. Don't even start.
Diego's looking after them. Great.
- Listen.
Next weekend they're with
you, OK? Nothing has to change.
Well, thanks for letting me know.
- Ben, we split up.
- I noticed.
I knew it.
- Tell me, is Diego now their father?
- Listen, Ben.
- They're my kids.
I'll take them.
- Listen, let's...
- I'll take them. Period.
Wait a minute!
Shit!
Good God!
- Step aside or I'll put a hole in you.
Where are the kids?
Wait... Wait a sec.
Hello?
- Diego, why don't you answer your cell?
Surprise, my little jumping mouse.
Yes, thanks for the
warning. He's already here.
What are you doing here?
- Picking you up. Where's Oskar?
Upstairs. He always takes ages.
What should I do? Call the police?
- I know.
- Oskar, come on, move it!
What are you doing?
We're running late. Cut
the crap. I'm picking you up.
I haven't seen you for so long.
Erna, you're more than
knee-high to a grasshopper.
- I can pee standing up.
- Great.
Oskar's does it sitting down.
You'll stay with me until...
- Oh yeah!
- What?
You OK, Oskar?
Sure.
I know a secret language.
Really? Great.
What did I say?
Please, tell me.
I'm not telling you. I
learned it in kindergarten.
And what's it like at the
new school? Any better?
The kids at the old one were awful.
You should've told me. Seyit
and I would've sorted it out.
If someone's an asshole to
you, be a bigger asshole back.
- Don't corrupt my kids.
- Ass...
hole.
Time for a hair cut, too. Not a great look.
Drop me off here!
What?
- I don't want to be seen in a police car!
Wait...
Not exactly a Waldorf school either.
Piss off!
Ready?
Come here.
- Love you. Bye.
- Bye.
HQ calling 5-23. HQ calling 5-23.
- Why are we here?
- Cover me.
- What?
- Back in five.
- Are you nuts?
- Make something up!
This is 5-23 calling HQ.
Cut the funny noises, Seyit. They're
the radio's job and we're not 13.
Coming!
- Shall we?
- What's all this?
Bottles.
What was in them?
Soda.
- Sure, soda.
- Let's go.
We'll stay here forever.
- Forever, sweetie.
Once the babies arrive, Mama will join us.
Correct.
- The whole family.
- The whole family.
And Diego.
You can't touch that.
It's Oskar's favorite dress.
His what? I don't get it.
- His favorite dress.
Give it to me.
Right now! It's none of your business!
What's going on?
He's been wearing a dress for how long?
- Half a year.
What?
Well, a little longer.
But consistently for...
five months?
Are you crazy?
Why don't you come over so we can talk...
What are you doing? Why didn't you tell me?
Because we...
Because we all knew
you'd react exactly like this.
He never wore it at my place.
Did you hide this from me?
You know that would've never
worked. You wouldn't have understood.
What are you saying?
Hang on. My mother's calling.
God, don't pick up.
- Of course, I'm not answering!
Can you still hear me?
- You answered, how lovely.
Mama, hello. Listen, I'm talking to...
- I don't want to interrupt.
I just wanted to tell you your
father died two months ago.
- What?
- No, of course he didn't.
But remember that feeling.
That's how it feels to
have a heartless child.
Mama, I can't...
One second.
Mira, I've got to...
- I want Diego to take care of the kids.
Out of the question!
- It's better that way.
I've got to get rid of Mama.
Mama, I can't right
now, I've got the kids...
I knew it.
She ran off with that Italian?
- I'll call you back.
Are you kidding me?
- Diego has babysat often enough.
We have a deal.
We agreed that you needed
some time for yourself.
And you've made good use of that time.
You're pregnant and my
son is wearing a dress.
My heart is racing. I'm
not supposed to get mad!
If you don't want my water to break here,
you'll do as I say!
The dress must go! Basta!
- Morning.
- Morning.
Oskar, you look like a hippie.
You're so tall. You're
growing hair on your chest.
Thanks.
Sorry I'm late. I have
to drop the kids off.
While on duty?
- You're the best, most beautiful boss.
Have you lost weight? Looks great.
Put two euros in the sexism jar.
- I love you.
- Get lost.
Come on, Oskar.
Door, please.
Thanks, Petra.
Peter... Peter!
Stop, I'm getting out!
My gosh. It's not that bad.
Other kids would love to have
a policeman as their father.
I can't wait for Diego to pick us up.
What's the matter?
You used to be like this.
I don't know.
- Puberty?
- Wow.
Now they start puberty at nine years old.
- What's going on?
- Break it up. Come here.
Visitor.
Just a sec.
I take it you're not here to press charges.
I just brought a few things.
Erna needs her sock puppet.
Who reads to her.
"Why are my eyes violet? Why?"
I've also packed her...
special sausage.
I packed chocolate and cookies, too.
Sometimes she eats too much,
which makes her tummy hurt.
That's what the hot water bottle is for.
And these are Oskar's things.
Every Tuesday he has dance class.
Can we talk about Oskar for a minute?
There's no nice way to put it,
but I still want to knock that
stupid goatee right off your face.
Every day, I have the urge to use
that computer to sic immigration on you.
Just to be clear, if you so much
as ignore someone's right of way,
you can go back to humping
tourists on Cuba, OK?
In.
Cuba is an island.
Great. So you know how hard
it is to escape in a rubber raft.
Grazie.
- Gracias.
- Beat it.
Two minutes and I'll have
all private matters sorted.
What?
This might take a while.
Done.
- Me, too.
- Good, let me see.
You first.
All right.
This is my wife Ilse and our two sons.
This is Franz-Josef, our Labradoodle.
Your turn.
- So who's this?
- It's you.
Great.
And who is that?
May I see?
It's me.
Lovely.
Well...
there's no quick explanation.
So I suggest we arrange
some follow-up appointments.
Do you want one, too?
- Just tell me. Is he sick?
No, he's perfectly healthy.
But?
Well...
Oh, God.
Tell me he's gay, and my
chair's going through the window.
No, I don't think he's gay.
Thank God.
I think it's possible
that your son is a girl.
It's all rather vague and at that
age nothing is conclusive, but...
I'd like to tell you a few things.
Oskar, let's go. Now.
Shit.
- Papa?
- Yes.
You OK?
I'm great.
Want a soda?
One soda, here you are.
Anything else?
SEXUAL ORIENTATION - BEING
EXCLUDED FROM SOCIETY
LIVING IN THE WRONG BODY
We're hungry.
Coming.
We want to help those
who are really affected.
But this distinction becomes harder
the more gender ideologues blur the lines.
What we see is that it is
almost becoming fashionable
for children to identify as trans.
Though one can't be
sure at such an early age,
children are downright being
pushed into it by their parents.
You mean intentionally?
- No, I mean unconsciously.
They just want the best for their children.
So it's more of a trend?
- There certainly is a copycat effect.
The numbers show that.
Trans is the new anorexia.
Thanks for the interview.
You can cut all that off.
I don't like that.
OK, I know this past year
was tough. It's my fault.
I should've insisted on seeing you
more, but things will be different now.
Isn't that great? We get a second chance.
I want to go to Mama's.
What?
Diego's pancakes are better.
Let's make a deal: You cut
the nonsense and in exchange...
we do whatever you like, cool
stuff that you can't do at Mama's.
Deal, Erni?
Oskar?
My name is not Oskar.
My name is Lili.
I'll have a pancake after all.
And I want my stuff.
Yummy!
Erni has her suitcase. Where is mine?
Gone.
- What do you mean?
- I trashed it.
You're lying!
Forget it. It's not here.
- Those are my clothes!
- Oskar, stay here.
Sit down!
You can't do that!
Yes, I can, I'm your
dad. Away from the door!
Go away!
Hello, Ms. Steck from
Child Protective Services.
We got a call, so I'm
here to offer our help.
That's Papa's bedroom.
- I'm a fairy in that one.
- That's great.
- Fabulous.
- I sleep here. So does Lili.
- Where are your pictures?
- Gone.
Gone? Why?
I couldn't look at them.
- Why?
- They're wrong.
You can't just throw away our pictures.
- Why not? You threw away my stuff, too.
Fabulous!
This is really good!
A little too good.
We know this is a difficult
situation for everyone involved.
That can't be emphasized enough,
but we're here for you
whenever you need us.
That's kind of you, but unnecessary...
- May I interrupt?
My life is a never-ending mashup of
"Save the Children" and "Supernanny."
Children in Germany have the right
to free development and physical integrity.
I'm paid 2.50 euros an hour to ensure that.
So don't you think I'm in it for the money.
I'm in it for the children.
If something comes up:
We're here for you. Believe me.
As I said, there's no problem at all.
Do you ever argue with Papa, Oskar?
My name is Lili.
Of course. Sorry, Lili.
Lili is such a nice name.
Do you ever argue?
Don't worry, you can tell me the truth.
Well, you see...
Papa was gonna help me
unpack my beautiful dresses.
Care to see them?
"Care to see my dress?"
Don't ask. Just don't.
You can drop me off
in front of school today.
Thanks.
You're welcome.
Won't he get punched looking like that?
- Nothing.
- Beats me.
- Just one question.
- Leave me alone.
Ben, your boy's wearing a dress.
Kin-der-gar-ten!
No skating!
You know that's not allowed.
One more thing. Listen.
That lady who came yesterday...
She was great.
Not a word about her to Mama.
Erni?
Who are you talking to?
Who do you think? I'm looking at you.
Then say my name.
Don't overdo it, Oskar.
- That's not my name.
- Lili.
- I beg your pardon?
Lili. Lili, OK?
- Mommy, Mommy!
- Finally!
Come here, you cuties.
My lovely little mice.
Be careful with my belly.
Careful there. Come sit next to me.
I missed you so much, my sweeties.
Say...
Stand up.
Your dress looks so clean.
How come?
Papa washed it.
You look great.
Gotcha!
I would've told you.
I wanted to wait and see.
Wait until what?
Until it's serious.
- Serious? He calls himself Lili!
She calls herself Lili.
- You've all been brainwashed!
I knew you'd freak out, that's why.
I knew you'd try to rewire the kid!
I'm rewiring the kid?
You've got to be joking.
You two made that up!
What were you even thinking?
Oskar says something and now it's a fact?
Yesterday, he wanted to be
a fireman. Today he's a girl?
So much is at stake. Let's not screw it up.
I'm talking to a brick
wall. You take it as a given.
Have you done any research? Read up on it?
I did. Listen. I did some research.
Holy shit.
It's not as clear-cut as you think.
There's a copycat effect.
Trans is all over the media.
The number of kids identifying
as trans has increased
by 120 percent! In one year!
Kids will make up anything.
This is very different.
- Sure. How would you know?
Believe me, I just know!
No, you don't.
Nobody can tell at that
age. All psychologists say so.
I can climb.
You know what it really is.
Oskar doesn't need a dress, he
needs attention. He needs his father.
You can't just take him away.
How would you even do
it? Vacation starts tomorrow.
Perfect. Vacation is "daddy time!"
But you work nights.
- Well, I've arranged everything.
No problem.
OK, let me talk to the kids first.
Come visit, promise? It's so boring here.
I'm getting all flabby and fat.
Erna, be nice, and no fighting.
- Lili?
- OK, Mama.
If you need any help, just call.
Diego will pick them up in two
weeks. We'll talk every day, twice!
Relax!
It's all sorted.
I need time off. Immediately.
- Time off?
- It's school holidays.
Childcare emergency.
Sure. Is your flight already booked?
Wait, I'll check happy-holidays.com.
You're being ironic, right?
Here.
Join 600 colleagues from five German states
and get pelted in the name of
democracy from both the left and the right.
My special offer for you.
- I'll take it.
- Good choice.
- Hot dogs!
- No time for that.
Diego always buys us hot dogs.
- Stop blackmailing me.
What did we agree on?
Papa will be right back.
You just play and if
need be hide in the ball pit.
Afterwards, I'll buy you something each.
Something small. I'll be quick.
Would nal's parents
please report to childcare.
The tooth fairy's got work to do.
I'm back.
- You're kidding.
- Why?
It's been four hours.
- So much to see here.
We called you seven times.
I must've missed it. Where are my children?
Upstairs with my colleague.
Upstairs in the shop. Good.
Thank you.
- Next time I'll call...
- The police?
Child Protective Services!
Ms. Sager to register 3!
Ms. Sager to register 3!
Hey, sweetie.
- Where's Oskar?
- I don't know.
What are you doing?
Watching the families.
I'm working on it.
I promise.
Why do I have to do this?
Great!
Come on! And up!
- Envelope or mummy?
- Mummy.
Hey, Papa!
Leave me alone!
- Ready...
- Steady, go.
Ben, why aren't your kids in the 24-hour,
free-of-charge police childcare facility?
Why aren't my kids there?
There isn't one.
- Peter...
- You stay here!
What's wrong with you?
Are you mad?
Is this a place for kids?
I told you, I need time off.
We're clearing the forest
tonight. Call your ex!
Over my dead body.
- Is there no one who can take them?
No one?
Of course she's had a face
lift. Everybody's had one.
But she's still a great artist.
Hi, Mama.
I don't believe it, you're alive.
Hello, Grandma.
My little boy! Darling,
here you are at last.
You're all wet.
Darling, Erna. What's all this?
Let's take off this burka first.
Oskar, why is your hair so long?
Erna, I haven't seen you for so long.
Let's fix you something to eat.
- What's wrong?
- Nothing.
It's my heart.
Dr. Kaminski says it's my
nerves. No surprises there.
But it doesn't matter.
When your grandmother dies,
you'll find out from the newspaper.
Look who's gracing us
with their presence tonight.
My darling.
The little ones have been neglected.
- Were they raised by wolves?
I warned Benjamin about that woman.
Now he can't even see his own children,
let alone us.
Come, sit down, sweethearts.
That we have to see a German
uniform in mother's house again...
- Marian.
- Her own grandson...
Good to see you.
You need money?
Marian!
Could the kids sleep
over? It's an emergency.
That's why you're here.
We're happy to have the
children here, aren't we?
We live with Papa now.
I thought your mother had
moved you to the ghetto.
Take off that jacket, you're all wet.
Oskar is a girl now.
Well then...
Do you want to destroy us?
Ruin us?
- What did we do to you?
- I'm sorry.
Do you even know what
you're doing to your mother?
In front of Quittenbaums?
What will people say?
First, you become a policeman,
making us a laughingstock. Now the boy.
Just tell them I'm adopted.
- That's not funny.
Every family needs a misfit.
- Do you mean yourself or Oskar?
Did he just take a dump out of the tree?
Worse things have happened to me today.
The Quittenbaums don't mind.
The Quittenbaums are mindless.
I want sausage with my bread.
- Sausage?
- My special sausage.
With a face on it.
What's wrong with this family?
We don't eat sausage in this house.
Certainly not with a face.
You like books?
How do you choose them?
By their color.
Then I read the first and last sentence.
Why?
Papa taught me so.
He was too lazy to read a whole
book. He preferred playing soccer.
I like it because I read
the first and last sentence,
then I imagine the story in between.
Then I read the whole book
and it turns out very
different from what I thought.
That one is a bit heavy for you, isn't it?
Heavy or difficult?
Pardon?
Papa says weights are heavy,
and life is difficult.
He says that?
How surprisingly Jewish of him.
Well, Tolstoy is probably both, isn't he?
- Want to hear the first sentence?
- Yes.
"Happy families are all alike;
every unhappy family is
unhappy in its own way."
But that's not true at all
if you really think about it.
Erol, Jimmy, Rock...
Marilyn, Judy...
- She looks weird.
- Not at all.
Maybe she drank a little too much.
Great talent always
comes as a great burden.
I don't understand.
Drugs, car accident, he liked
boys, AIDS, sleeping pills, alcohol...
It's not always easy
being something special.
- Who's that?
- Tibi. We're going for a walk.
And Oskar... Lili is coming with us.
- And the little one?
- She's on the toilet.
Have fun.
I'm ready!
I'll be struck by
lightning if I go in there.
It's an emergency. And
you donate regularly.
We donate regularly, but to the
Palestinian-Israeli youth orchestra.
Barenboim's project. Art is my temple.
I help with their spring
cleaning every year.
They shouldn't be like that.
Wait. One second.
Now.
Write down one wish.
I'll give it to the rabbi later.
On his next trip,
he'll put it in the Wailing Wall.
And then the wish will be granted?
Of course.
But we don't believe in God.
- Neither do I. Doesn't matter.
Should I lie to the child?
- Nobody has to know.
But God will know.
If He doesn't exist, He
won't hold it against you.
But what if He does exist?
That's why you write down your wish.
And we pray.
Just in case.
- One wish?
- One wish.
- I'll have to have a think.
- You do that.
Who are you here with, my little angel?
You're not a girl.
I have a question.
- If God exists...
- I certainly hope so.
Otherwise I might as well
not clean the floor tonight.
Does God make mistakes?
Do you want the official
answer or the truth?
- The truth.
- Of course He makes mistakes.
Just take a look around.
But I'll tell you a secret.
Everything in the world
changes little by little.
And at the beginning of every
change, there's a tiny mistake.
That's why fish have fins,
we have hands
and birds have wings.
And every flower and every whale
and every insect
are basically mistakes, too.
So the answer is yes. The
Almighty makes mistakes.
And He makes them on purpose.
The Almighty loves His mistakes.
In an emergency, everyone
rediscovers their faith.
Your boy is gay. But you know that.
The donation box is by the entrance.
The windows are leaking.
You look like death.
I had a night shift.
Kids, are you ready?
It's hard to see one's
child suffering like that.
Kids, are you coming?
Do you think we can see the stars?
Shall we look?
Look at them.
I wish Mama was here, too.
I know.
One thing before Diego picks
you up for school tomorrow.
I don't want to influence you.
And I won't take this away from you.
I just want to tell you that,
if you're only making this up
and you feel like you can't go back,
nobody will be mad at you.
Not even Mama.
You don't have to do
this for me to love you.
I won't leave you.
Oskar, it's five to!
Come on!
Diego!
You little traitor.
How are you?
We peed standing up and built a tree house.
Come on, I'll show you.
Well, maybe next time.
Maybe. I'll get the luggage.
Where's Lili?
In the bathroom. Taking forever.
Women!
Lili, are you coming?
My name is Oskar. And I'm staying here.
Me, too.
What?
- I told you so.
- Help me up.
Help, I weigh 700 pounds and have no abs!
What have you done to Lili?
- That's your first thought?
You can't admit you
were wrong. Just be happy!
- Happy?
- Yes, for our child!
Unbelievable. Look here.
Child Protective Services sent this.
They're concerned and
want to let us know...
So I raised my voice, it was
nothing. You think I forced him?
- Her!
- Him!
- Diego.
- Who.
Go get Lili.
Don't you get it? He doesn't want to.
- She cut her hair.
- He!
And he...
- She!
- Said she might have...
- He!
- Made it up.
He doesn't get it.
Oskar put his dress away.
He doesn't need Lili anymore.
- Where is she now?
- Who?
Lili! Are you stupid?
I need to talk to her.
At school.
As a boy?
Diego.
Shit.
Why?
What's up?
They don't know he's a boy.
Diego, can you give us a minute?
You enrolled him as a girl?
She was bullied so badly.
She wanted to start over.
Behind my back?
The school knows.
It was so good for her. She felt so good.
Who am I to you?
Do I even matter in this family anymore?
Or have I been erased?
She should make up her mind.
I don't want to fight. I know I
messed up. I just want you to know...
I get it. And I can fix it. Look at Oskar.
The kids need their family back.
No.
You need your family back.
Know what you want, Ben?
Not your family.
There was no time for that with the
house and work and debts and beer.
You want the pictures
hanging on your wall back.
But that's not how it was, Ben. Believe me.
You want your family back?
Then start seeing them as they are.
Look at your child.
And then look into your
heart and tell me it's not true.
Fine.
Let's all look into our hearts,
and let me ask you this:
Do you still love me?
It's a very simple question.
Look at me and say it to my face,
so I finally get it.
Do you still love me?
What exactly about my
situation is hard to understand?
Get lost. Just go away, please.
Marian.
But it is an interesting question.
- I'm reading.
But how can a child be certain,
at that age, that it's in the wrong body?
A child! Where does that come from?
Certainly not from my side.
- No, of course not.
People have it too good.
Maybe.
But it is an interesting question.
Listen to this.
"How to refer to someone who can
neither identify as male nor female?"
What do they say?
- Ze.
- What?
Yeah: It's zeir book.
This is the end of the world.
- No, it's gender-sensitive language.
Which will be the death of literature.
White-washing language is fascism.
You're probably right.
Of course. I'm usually right.
Do you know how many
times I was about to leave you?
- What?
- Nothing.
What's the matter now?
- Nothing. Everything's fine.
And you're probably right.
I'm taking a nap.
It's 3 pm, when I always take a nap.
That won't change.
Until we die.
- But Lia, my love...
- No, Marian.
That's where we're different:
You always want to be right.
And I want my family.
Ms. Gerhardt had diarrhea today.
She went to the toilet three times...
- Oskar!
You smell funny.
Get down, my arm's numb.
If you go home alone, let me
know. I was waiting for you.
What?
How was school?
Oskar, sweetie.
What happened?
Look at me.
Who did that?
Nobody.
Those assholes.
Come here.
Here's what you need to know
to get through life as a man.
There'll always be someone out to get you.
There are just too many
assholes looking to bully someone.
In a fight, there are only two rules.
Hit them first.
As hard as you can.
Understood?
The other guy shouldn't be able to get up.
Come on,
I'll tend to your bruises.
Ice will help.
I'll make you pancakes.
I'll burn them, too.
I have an idea. Wait a sec.
You have to purse your lips...
Just right.
Close your mouth.
Close your eyes.
Now open them again.
Come in, Papa. To the beauty salon.
Sorry, I shouldn't be here. I got
your address from the file, illegally...
Slow down. Speak slowly.
Or I'll need my hearing
aids. First things first.
I have a question.
Just one?
More like a thousand.
Come on in.
Or the neighbors will think
the police are always here.
It's not locked.
"LGBTQ,
I, A, plus..."
G, V, I, J, P, K, E,
there still aren't enough
letters to include everyone.
I don't understand a word.
It's about perception.
People want to be
perceived the way they are.
And we've really come a long way.
But to be honest, I sometimes
wonder: Where's the sense of humor?
But this isn't about you, is it?
Good, or I'd have
recommended another nail polish.
It's about your boy.
It's quite something.
I see.
I'm scared.
I'd like someone to
tell me what's going on.
Tea?
All right, I'll add some rum.
What's going on?
- How old is Lili now?
- Nine.
Nine, well, then you've
still got a few years.
When she enters puberty,
she might be unhappy
because her body won't
develop the way she wants it to.
But there's now medication available
to delay puberty.
But why?
So she doesn't turn out as
tall as a beanstalk, for example.
So that she can decide if
people look at her or not.
Right, makes sense.
But it comes at a price.
No puberty means no kids.
How do you make that kind of decision?
You've got it wrong. You
don't have to decide anything.
There's only one person to decide that.
All you have to do is love your child.
Look.
This has always brought me luck:
a sea horse.
Their males give birth.
Did you sleep badly? You look
like you were run over by a tractor.
- Thanks.
- There's glitter in your beard.
Did I miss something?
Just one moment of your precious time, Ben.
Papa, I'm on duty.
Won't take long.
- It's OK.
- No, we're on patrol.
I'll sit in the back. Drop
me off at the next taxi stand.
No, that's against the
law. Tell him, Seyit.
We do it all the time.
What?
Where to start?
It's clear to me that financially, to
put it mildly, you're not doing well.
I mean, what does a
low-ranking policeman earn?
What do you earn, for example?
- We're not that low-ranking.
How much?
- 2,300 euros a month.
- After tax?
- Before tax.
There you have it.
Then there's the house no one wanted,
child support for the kids you never see
from the relationship that's long gone.
In a word, I wanted to make you an offer.
Thanks, I don't want any gifts from you.
Don't worry, I wouldn't gift you anything.
Live as you like. I'm
not giving you advice.
That never helped anyway.
I opened two bank accounts for the kids.
I just knew you'd interfere.
Could you please take it?
The boy is clever, he's talented.
- He's a girl!
Hello?
- Let's leave that to the psychologists.
See where it gets you. I want
Oskar to go to a good school.
What?
- There's a great Jewish high school...
You don't even know which
school he goes to. She!
I know that, to put it
lightly, school wasn't for you.
The school is fine!
It's the school.
What?
- This is the school?
- Stay in the car.
- I'm glad you came...
- I'm not on duty.
Do something, they beat up a kid again.
Where is he?
What a shitty school
where kids get beaten up!
Get it under control! Hey, are you OK?
- Show me.
- There's been a misunderstanding.
Your child wasn't
beaten, it did the beating.
- What?
- Lili broke a boy's nose.
- What?
- You think that's good?
No, of course not.
Mr. Kornmann, we agreed to
this experiment because we believe
every child needs to be understood.
- The situation however...
- What's going on?
Were you hit?
- Who are you?
- Papa, wait in the car.
Are Jewish citizens being beaten
up at German schools again?
- Under the eyes of...
- Papa.
- Oskar did the beating.
- Lili.
- That's what I meant.
- Really?
Go back to the car.
What do you expect? That
we turn the other cheek?
That we don't respond in kind?
Are you talking to me?
Never mind.
- If you prick us, do we not bleed?
If you tickle us, do we not laugh?
- God, Papa.
"The Merchant of Venice."
Sorry, he's a literature professor.
Enough Shakespeare for
now. Let's face the facts.
We took on Oskar as a girl because
we wanted to add something...
constructive to the situation.
But given the current conflicts,
I have to say
it's getting out of hand.
We would suggest a break for a few days.
- You're expelling Oskar?
- Lili.
- Of course.
- We're not expelling anyone.
We'll wait for things to calm down.
Then we'll all sit down
calmly and discuss it.
Is that what happened
when Oskar was attacked?
Let's be frank.
It's because Oskar is the way he is.
Excuse me?
- Jewish.
- Trans. What?
Look.
See that?
I'm missing three molars
and my eardrum is ruptured.
From when I got beaten
up at Gay Pride in Moscow.
And you're trying to insinuate that I...?
I discriminate against no one.
I'm trying. I'm struggling
for a diverse and open society.
Which, with students from 43 nations,
is a very challenging task indeed.
But let me tell you one
thing from experience.
The problem isn't the students.
The problem is always the parents.
Hence, we notified
Child Protective Services.
What?
- And your wife.
- What?
Ex-wife.
She's going to kill me.
Sorry, Papa.
Don't apologize. You did nothing wrong.
Indeed, you didn't. But
I can tell you who did.
Enough. Let's settle this once and for all.
Seyit, turn on some music. Loud.
Let's see what we've got.
I win like a man. I lose like a man.
Well, that's... hip-hop for you.
I drink whiskey, vodka, beer
and then a coke, like a man.
I'm gonna party hard,
because I work like a man.
I don't know what you mean.
Say it, I'm a failure, a school dropout.
I've ruined my marriage and child.
Sure, you saw it coming.
You're right, as always!
It's your choice to cast
pearls before swine.
Papa, maybe I'm just too stupid!
Nonsense! You just want
to be like everyone else.
Anything but to stand out.
You couldn't even manage that.
Do you even realize how brave this kid is?
Like a dandelion growing
through the pavement.
People may laugh, but
he's still wearing his dress.
I don't care how smart or stupid you are.
What I hold against
you is your lack of guts.
Fine.
I'm glad you came. The subway's over there.
Ben, let's go back to the station.
I'm running out of
excuses. Petra smells a rat.
Peter. The guy's name is Peter.
Don't be so touchy. Let's just get
some cake for the guys to lift the mood.
- What time is it?
- Half past three.
Shit.
- Where's Erna?
- She just left.
She drove home her toy car?
She sat here for 45 minutes,
then we called her father.
- I'm her father.
- Oh.
I thought you were an au pair.
- Who picked her up, for God's sake?
The nice man with the
accent. Five minutes ago.
That cow!
Wait. Go that way.
I'm going back.
No, wait.
- Yes, I'm going back. I've had it.
There he is!
- Why is he going to your place?
Stop the car! Let me out!
Here, take the cake.
Come on!
Run!
Stop!
Faster!
I'll get you!
Stop, you filthy child thief!
Help!
- Mira?
- Mama!
What happened to you?
At school...
- What kind of person are you, Ben?
- Excuse me?
- Didn't I tell you?
He is dangerous. We
can't leave the kids with him.
Is he claiming I hit my kids?
You said you'd put a hole in me.
True, and that I'd smash your face in.
He said he was going to shoot me.
Didn't you?
Now I get it.
You want me to freak out.
I won't do you that favor, buddy.
- What the... is that?
- What?
You been drinking?
I thought he was...
What's the word? Dry.
The kids shouldn't be with...
Stop it!
Stop it now!
Stop it! Diego, stop it!
Come here, kids. Come with me.
Breathe on me, please.
Get in the car, please.
All right.
My love.
- Thank you.
- What for?
For helping us.
I'm helping the children, not you.
Fine by me. All the better.
Diego, can you cook
something nice for the kids?
Of course, my love.
You think the kids are coming with you?
What did she say?
We found a family, they're wonderful people
who help children in need until
the parents sort themselves out.
What?
You just give birth, then find your
bearings and we can discuss the matter.
Stop.
- What?
- Stop!
I didn't mean now.
Shit.
My love, are you OK?
Mama, are you OK?
It's starting. Close the door.
- It's fine.
- You OK?
Let's go!
Shit.
- Stop!
- What?
Where's Lili?
Lili, where are you?
Find my child!
Find! My! Child!
What are you doing? Are you crazy?
Let go!
Your kid's gone.
Didn't you hear me? Your kid's gone.
Both of them.
You win.
- Are you crazy?
- Wake up! Wake up, idiot!
You won. What more do you want?
We need you! Pull
yourself together, damn it!
We need you!
Oskar...
is gone.
What?
What happened, Ben? He might've run
onto the highway.
No, then there'd be...
ambulances, my colleagues...
But what if...
- he got into a truck?
- What?
With a sex offender or a drug mule.
You're making things worse.
He could be anywhere. It's impossible.
If something happens to him, it's my fault.
Get my parents.
Call the police. The state
I'm in, I'll lose custody.
Off you go. Go!
Come out now, damn it! That's enough!
Come on. Get yourself together.
Where are you?
We're about to close. This way, please.
- Just one second.
- We're open again tomorrow.
- Just one.
I need you to make
your way to the checkout.
Please.
Seriously, I lost my child.
But you just walked in.
I need to...
- Dear customers, we're closing now.
One thing.
One...
I know you can hear me.
I'm a little...
I don't know how to say this...
It's that guy again.
Oskar, I swear, everything will be...
- Let go of me!
- He left his kids here.
Leave now or we'll call the police.
I am the police, asshole!
I love you!
Let me go!
- Sober up and everything will be fine.
- He's in there.
- We would've seen him.
But he's in there!
- If he is, we'll take him to the police.
It'll be all right.
It'll be all right.
Wait! Wait...
- I called out the wrong kid.
- What?
I mean, I said the wrong name.
Her name is Lili. You
need to call out Lili.
Just get some rest.
There you are.
Are you OK? What are you
doing? Where have you been?
I wanted to disappear.
Lili, you're only nine,
what were you thinking?
We were scared to death,
you can't just run away.
I didn't want to run away.
I wanted to disappear.
Why?
I thought the world would
be better off without me.
You're all fighting
because of the way I am.
No, we're not fighting because of you.
You're not the problem. We are.
It's our fault. We're...
We're to take care of you.
Why aren't I like everybody else, Papa?
Nobody is like everybody else.
I mean, normal.
Normal is just the average of
all the crazy people out there.
Too complicated?
I'm not stupid.
I know.
Look.
I don't care what you are.
What you call yourself, if you
wear a dress or play soccer.
You're my child.
You can't scare me like that.
Do you know why I stayed?
No, why?
I was afraid something would happen to you.
You were so drunk.
I wanted to take care of you.
I'm sorry, sweetie.
I'm a terrible father.
You're OK, Papa. You're OK the way you are.
Come on.
They're so beautiful.
They look like they're 100 years old.
Bad-tempered old men.
- Let me see.
- Come here.
Look, Erna, you used to be this ugly, too.
Tiny, mean old men.
Girls! They're girls, OK?
Hello, come in.
- Where are the little ones?
In an incubator! I hope that doesn't
mean their growth will be stunted.
It's not an incubator, it's Plexiglas.
This cream helps against stretch marks.
After a birth like that,
nothing will be the same again.
Mama, please!
- Now...
- Congratulations.
Could you get a vase,
please? We need a vase.
A vase.
Water is in the bathroom, where else.
So, what's this rabbit's name?
Oh, God.
- Is there water in it?
- Of course.
Thanks, I'll take over.
My God.
Look at that.
You were so little then.
Here.
Hide it.
But where?
Wherever you want. Only you need to know.
For future use.
You never know.
- In the garden?
- Why not?
But it'll rot.
Don't look.
What's the matter?
Nothing.
Everything's fine.
Oh my.
I can see you.
Yes, all right.
Ready?
This is the last time, OK?
Let me see.
I promise.
We spoke to everybody.
Everybody knows.
It's a fantastic school.
Papa's here.
Take a look.
For all the families who
shared their stories with us.
Actually. For all families.
- Morning.
- Morning.
They'll be puking in the
train toilets by Frankfurt.
Next is the security conference.
The inventor of those e-scooters
actually died on an e-scooter.
You look like shit.
We won't get you off the market like that.
It's about time, isn't it?
HONEY
Are you serious? She's
still saved as "honey."
Yeah, I don't... It's just...
- Mira?
- After a year and a half?
You're where?
Oh my, how are you?
What are you doing?
- Ben, I told you not to come.
Why didn't you call earlier?
- I knew you'd freak out.
Everything's fine.
I might have... I got a little
carried away doing the salsa.
The salsa...
I'm in preterm labor. I'm supposed
to stay in bed until I give birth.
I'm freaking out already.
Pass me the TheraBand.
That stupid dance.
- It's no longer your problem, Ben.
Now what?
Now I'm trying to convince them
that I could be at home. But
it's like talking to a brick wall.
No I mean, what about the kids?
Diego's taking care of
them. Everything's all right.
Diego?
Gosh, Ben. Don't even start.
Diego's looking after them. Great.
- Listen.
Next weekend they're with
you, OK? Nothing has to change.
Well, thanks for letting me know.
- Ben, we split up.
- I noticed.
I knew it.
- Tell me, is Diego now their father?
- Listen, Ben.
- They're my kids.
I'll take them.
- Listen, let's...
- I'll take them. Period.
Wait a minute!
Shit!
Good God!
- Step aside or I'll put a hole in you.
Where are the kids?
Wait... Wait a sec.
Hello?
- Diego, why don't you answer your cell?
Surprise, my little jumping mouse.
Yes, thanks for the
warning. He's already here.
What are you doing here?
- Picking you up. Where's Oskar?
Upstairs. He always takes ages.
What should I do? Call the police?
- I know.
- Oskar, come on, move it!
What are you doing?
We're running late. Cut
the crap. I'm picking you up.
I haven't seen you for so long.
Erna, you're more than
knee-high to a grasshopper.
- I can pee standing up.
- Great.
Oskar's does it sitting down.
You'll stay with me until...
- Oh yeah!
- What?
You OK, Oskar?
Sure.
I know a secret language.
Really? Great.
What did I say?
Please, tell me.
I'm not telling you. I
learned it in kindergarten.
And what's it like at the
new school? Any better?
The kids at the old one were awful.
You should've told me. Seyit
and I would've sorted it out.
If someone's an asshole to
you, be a bigger asshole back.
- Don't corrupt my kids.
- Ass...
hole.
Time for a hair cut, too. Not a great look.
Drop me off here!
What?
- I don't want to be seen in a police car!
Wait...
Not exactly a Waldorf school either.
Piss off!
Ready?
Come here.
- Love you. Bye.
- Bye.
HQ calling 5-23. HQ calling 5-23.
- Why are we here?
- Cover me.
- What?
- Back in five.
- Are you nuts?
- Make something up!
This is 5-23 calling HQ.
Cut the funny noises, Seyit. They're
the radio's job and we're not 13.
Coming!
- Shall we?
- What's all this?
Bottles.
What was in them?
Soda.
- Sure, soda.
- Let's go.
We'll stay here forever.
- Forever, sweetie.
Once the babies arrive, Mama will join us.
Correct.
- The whole family.
- The whole family.
And Diego.
You can't touch that.
It's Oskar's favorite dress.
His what? I don't get it.
- His favorite dress.
Give it to me.
Right now! It's none of your business!
What's going on?
He's been wearing a dress for how long?
- Half a year.
What?
Well, a little longer.
But consistently for...
five months?
Are you crazy?
Why don't you come over so we can talk...
What are you doing? Why didn't you tell me?
Because we...
Because we all knew
you'd react exactly like this.
He never wore it at my place.
Did you hide this from me?
You know that would've never
worked. You wouldn't have understood.
What are you saying?
Hang on. My mother's calling.
God, don't pick up.
- Of course, I'm not answering!
Can you still hear me?
- You answered, how lovely.
Mama, hello. Listen, I'm talking to...
- I don't want to interrupt.
I just wanted to tell you your
father died two months ago.
- What?
- No, of course he didn't.
But remember that feeling.
That's how it feels to
have a heartless child.
Mama, I can't...
One second.
Mira, I've got to...
- I want Diego to take care of the kids.
Out of the question!
- It's better that way.
I've got to get rid of Mama.
Mama, I can't right
now, I've got the kids...
I knew it.
She ran off with that Italian?
- I'll call you back.
Are you kidding me?
- Diego has babysat often enough.
We have a deal.
We agreed that you needed
some time for yourself.
And you've made good use of that time.
You're pregnant and my
son is wearing a dress.
My heart is racing. I'm
not supposed to get mad!
If you don't want my water to break here,
you'll do as I say!
The dress must go! Basta!
- Morning.
- Morning.
Oskar, you look like a hippie.
You're so tall. You're
growing hair on your chest.
Thanks.
Sorry I'm late. I have
to drop the kids off.
While on duty?
- You're the best, most beautiful boss.
Have you lost weight? Looks great.
Put two euros in the sexism jar.
- I love you.
- Get lost.
Come on, Oskar.
Door, please.
Thanks, Petra.
Peter... Peter!
Stop, I'm getting out!
My gosh. It's not that bad.
Other kids would love to have
a policeman as their father.
I can't wait for Diego to pick us up.
What's the matter?
You used to be like this.
I don't know.
- Puberty?
- Wow.
Now they start puberty at nine years old.
- What's going on?
- Break it up. Come here.
Visitor.
Just a sec.
I take it you're not here to press charges.
I just brought a few things.
Erna needs her sock puppet.
Who reads to her.
"Why are my eyes violet? Why?"
I've also packed her...
special sausage.
I packed chocolate and cookies, too.
Sometimes she eats too much,
which makes her tummy hurt.
That's what the hot water bottle is for.
And these are Oskar's things.
Every Tuesday he has dance class.
Can we talk about Oskar for a minute?
There's no nice way to put it,
but I still want to knock that
stupid goatee right off your face.
Every day, I have the urge to use
that computer to sic immigration on you.
Just to be clear, if you so much
as ignore someone's right of way,
you can go back to humping
tourists on Cuba, OK?
In.
Cuba is an island.
Great. So you know how hard
it is to escape in a rubber raft.
Grazie.
- Gracias.
- Beat it.
Two minutes and I'll have
all private matters sorted.
What?
This might take a while.
Done.
- Me, too.
- Good, let me see.
You first.
All right.
This is my wife Ilse and our two sons.
This is Franz-Josef, our Labradoodle.
Your turn.
- So who's this?
- It's you.
Great.
And who is that?
May I see?
It's me.
Lovely.
Well...
there's no quick explanation.
So I suggest we arrange
some follow-up appointments.
Do you want one, too?
- Just tell me. Is he sick?
No, he's perfectly healthy.
But?
Well...
Oh, God.
Tell me he's gay, and my
chair's going through the window.
No, I don't think he's gay.
Thank God.
I think it's possible
that your son is a girl.
It's all rather vague and at that
age nothing is conclusive, but...
I'd like to tell you a few things.
Oskar, let's go. Now.
Shit.
- Papa?
- Yes.
You OK?
I'm great.
Want a soda?
One soda, here you are.
Anything else?
SEXUAL ORIENTATION - BEING
EXCLUDED FROM SOCIETY
LIVING IN THE WRONG BODY
We're hungry.
Coming.
We want to help those
who are really affected.
But this distinction becomes harder
the more gender ideologues blur the lines.
What we see is that it is
almost becoming fashionable
for children to identify as trans.
Though one can't be
sure at such an early age,
children are downright being
pushed into it by their parents.
You mean intentionally?
- No, I mean unconsciously.
They just want the best for their children.
So it's more of a trend?
- There certainly is a copycat effect.
The numbers show that.
Trans is the new anorexia.
Thanks for the interview.
You can cut all that off.
I don't like that.
OK, I know this past year
was tough. It's my fault.
I should've insisted on seeing you
more, but things will be different now.
Isn't that great? We get a second chance.
I want to go to Mama's.
What?
Diego's pancakes are better.
Let's make a deal: You cut
the nonsense and in exchange...
we do whatever you like, cool
stuff that you can't do at Mama's.
Deal, Erni?
Oskar?
My name is not Oskar.
My name is Lili.
I'll have a pancake after all.
And I want my stuff.
Yummy!
Erni has her suitcase. Where is mine?
Gone.
- What do you mean?
- I trashed it.
You're lying!
Forget it. It's not here.
- Those are my clothes!
- Oskar, stay here.
Sit down!
You can't do that!
Yes, I can, I'm your
dad. Away from the door!
Go away!
Hello, Ms. Steck from
Child Protective Services.
We got a call, so I'm
here to offer our help.
That's Papa's bedroom.
- I'm a fairy in that one.
- That's great.
- Fabulous.
- I sleep here. So does Lili.
- Where are your pictures?
- Gone.
Gone? Why?
I couldn't look at them.
- Why?
- They're wrong.
You can't just throw away our pictures.
- Why not? You threw away my stuff, too.
Fabulous!
This is really good!
A little too good.
We know this is a difficult
situation for everyone involved.
That can't be emphasized enough,
but we're here for you
whenever you need us.
That's kind of you, but unnecessary...
- May I interrupt?
My life is a never-ending mashup of
"Save the Children" and "Supernanny."
Children in Germany have the right
to free development and physical integrity.
I'm paid 2.50 euros an hour to ensure that.
So don't you think I'm in it for the money.
I'm in it for the children.
If something comes up:
We're here for you. Believe me.
As I said, there's no problem at all.
Do you ever argue with Papa, Oskar?
My name is Lili.
Of course. Sorry, Lili.
Lili is such a nice name.
Do you ever argue?
Don't worry, you can tell me the truth.
Well, you see...
Papa was gonna help me
unpack my beautiful dresses.
Care to see them?
"Care to see my dress?"
Don't ask. Just don't.
You can drop me off
in front of school today.
Thanks.
You're welcome.
Won't he get punched looking like that?
- Nothing.
- Beats me.
- Just one question.
- Leave me alone.
Ben, your boy's wearing a dress.
Kin-der-gar-ten!
No skating!
You know that's not allowed.
One more thing. Listen.
That lady who came yesterday...
She was great.
Not a word about her to Mama.
Erni?
Who are you talking to?
Who do you think? I'm looking at you.
Then say my name.
Don't overdo it, Oskar.
- That's not my name.
- Lili.
- I beg your pardon?
Lili. Lili, OK?
- Mommy, Mommy!
- Finally!
Come here, you cuties.
My lovely little mice.
Be careful with my belly.
Careful there. Come sit next to me.
I missed you so much, my sweeties.
Say...
Stand up.
Your dress looks so clean.
How come?
Papa washed it.
You look great.
Gotcha!
I would've told you.
I wanted to wait and see.
Wait until what?
Until it's serious.
- Serious? He calls himself Lili!
She calls herself Lili.
- You've all been brainwashed!
I knew you'd freak out, that's why.
I knew you'd try to rewire the kid!
I'm rewiring the kid?
You've got to be joking.
You two made that up!
What were you even thinking?
Oskar says something and now it's a fact?
Yesterday, he wanted to be
a fireman. Today he's a girl?
So much is at stake. Let's not screw it up.
I'm talking to a brick
wall. You take it as a given.
Have you done any research? Read up on it?
I did. Listen. I did some research.
Holy shit.
It's not as clear-cut as you think.
There's a copycat effect.
Trans is all over the media.
The number of kids identifying
as trans has increased
by 120 percent! In one year!
Kids will make up anything.
This is very different.
- Sure. How would you know?
Believe me, I just know!
No, you don't.
Nobody can tell at that
age. All psychologists say so.
I can climb.
You know what it really is.
Oskar doesn't need a dress, he
needs attention. He needs his father.
You can't just take him away.
How would you even do
it? Vacation starts tomorrow.
Perfect. Vacation is "daddy time!"
But you work nights.
- Well, I've arranged everything.
No problem.
OK, let me talk to the kids first.
Come visit, promise? It's so boring here.
I'm getting all flabby and fat.
Erna, be nice, and no fighting.
- Lili?
- OK, Mama.
If you need any help, just call.
Diego will pick them up in two
weeks. We'll talk every day, twice!
Relax!
It's all sorted.
I need time off. Immediately.
- Time off?
- It's school holidays.
Childcare emergency.
Sure. Is your flight already booked?
Wait, I'll check happy-holidays.com.
You're being ironic, right?
Here.
Join 600 colleagues from five German states
and get pelted in the name of
democracy from both the left and the right.
My special offer for you.
- I'll take it.
- Good choice.
- Hot dogs!
- No time for that.
Diego always buys us hot dogs.
- Stop blackmailing me.
What did we agree on?
Papa will be right back.
You just play and if
need be hide in the ball pit.
Afterwards, I'll buy you something each.
Something small. I'll be quick.
Would nal's parents
please report to childcare.
The tooth fairy's got work to do.
I'm back.
- You're kidding.
- Why?
It's been four hours.
- So much to see here.
We called you seven times.
I must've missed it. Where are my children?
Upstairs with my colleague.
Upstairs in the shop. Good.
Thank you.
- Next time I'll call...
- The police?
Child Protective Services!
Ms. Sager to register 3!
Ms. Sager to register 3!
Hey, sweetie.
- Where's Oskar?
- I don't know.
What are you doing?
Watching the families.
I'm working on it.
I promise.
Why do I have to do this?
Great!
Come on! And up!
- Envelope or mummy?
- Mummy.
Hey, Papa!
Leave me alone!
- Ready...
- Steady, go.
Ben, why aren't your kids in the 24-hour,
free-of-charge police childcare facility?
Why aren't my kids there?
There isn't one.
- Peter...
- You stay here!
What's wrong with you?
Are you mad?
Is this a place for kids?
I told you, I need time off.
We're clearing the forest
tonight. Call your ex!
Over my dead body.
- Is there no one who can take them?
No one?
Of course she's had a face
lift. Everybody's had one.
But she's still a great artist.
Hi, Mama.
I don't believe it, you're alive.
Hello, Grandma.
My little boy! Darling,
here you are at last.
You're all wet.
Darling, Erna. What's all this?
Let's take off this burka first.
Oskar, why is your hair so long?
Erna, I haven't seen you for so long.
Let's fix you something to eat.
- What's wrong?
- Nothing.
It's my heart.
Dr. Kaminski says it's my
nerves. No surprises there.
But it doesn't matter.
When your grandmother dies,
you'll find out from the newspaper.
Look who's gracing us
with their presence tonight.
My darling.
The little ones have been neglected.
- Were they raised by wolves?
I warned Benjamin about that woman.
Now he can't even see his own children,
let alone us.
Come, sit down, sweethearts.
That we have to see a German
uniform in mother's house again...
- Marian.
- Her own grandson...
Good to see you.
You need money?
Marian!
Could the kids sleep
over? It's an emergency.
That's why you're here.
We're happy to have the
children here, aren't we?
We live with Papa now.
I thought your mother had
moved you to the ghetto.
Take off that jacket, you're all wet.
Oskar is a girl now.
Well then...
Do you want to destroy us?
Ruin us?
- What did we do to you?
- I'm sorry.
Do you even know what
you're doing to your mother?
In front of Quittenbaums?
What will people say?
First, you become a policeman,
making us a laughingstock. Now the boy.
Just tell them I'm adopted.
- That's not funny.
Every family needs a misfit.
- Do you mean yourself or Oskar?
Did he just take a dump out of the tree?
Worse things have happened to me today.
The Quittenbaums don't mind.
The Quittenbaums are mindless.
I want sausage with my bread.
- Sausage?
- My special sausage.
With a face on it.
What's wrong with this family?
We don't eat sausage in this house.
Certainly not with a face.
You like books?
How do you choose them?
By their color.
Then I read the first and last sentence.
Why?
Papa taught me so.
He was too lazy to read a whole
book. He preferred playing soccer.
I like it because I read
the first and last sentence,
then I imagine the story in between.
Then I read the whole book
and it turns out very
different from what I thought.
That one is a bit heavy for you, isn't it?
Heavy or difficult?
Pardon?
Papa says weights are heavy,
and life is difficult.
He says that?
How surprisingly Jewish of him.
Well, Tolstoy is probably both, isn't he?
- Want to hear the first sentence?
- Yes.
"Happy families are all alike;
every unhappy family is
unhappy in its own way."
But that's not true at all
if you really think about it.
Erol, Jimmy, Rock...
Marilyn, Judy...
- She looks weird.
- Not at all.
Maybe she drank a little too much.
Great talent always
comes as a great burden.
I don't understand.
Drugs, car accident, he liked
boys, AIDS, sleeping pills, alcohol...
It's not always easy
being something special.
- Who's that?
- Tibi. We're going for a walk.
And Oskar... Lili is coming with us.
- And the little one?
- She's on the toilet.
Have fun.
I'm ready!
I'll be struck by
lightning if I go in there.
It's an emergency. And
you donate regularly.
We donate regularly, but to the
Palestinian-Israeli youth orchestra.
Barenboim's project. Art is my temple.
I help with their spring
cleaning every year.
They shouldn't be like that.
Wait. One second.
Now.
Write down one wish.
I'll give it to the rabbi later.
On his next trip,
he'll put it in the Wailing Wall.
And then the wish will be granted?
Of course.
But we don't believe in God.
- Neither do I. Doesn't matter.
Should I lie to the child?
- Nobody has to know.
But God will know.
If He doesn't exist, He
won't hold it against you.
But what if He does exist?
That's why you write down your wish.
And we pray.
Just in case.
- One wish?
- One wish.
- I'll have to have a think.
- You do that.
Who are you here with, my little angel?
You're not a girl.
I have a question.
- If God exists...
- I certainly hope so.
Otherwise I might as well
not clean the floor tonight.
Does God make mistakes?
Do you want the official
answer or the truth?
- The truth.
- Of course He makes mistakes.
Just take a look around.
But I'll tell you a secret.
Everything in the world
changes little by little.
And at the beginning of every
change, there's a tiny mistake.
That's why fish have fins,
we have hands
and birds have wings.
And every flower and every whale
and every insect
are basically mistakes, too.
So the answer is yes. The
Almighty makes mistakes.
And He makes them on purpose.
The Almighty loves His mistakes.
In an emergency, everyone
rediscovers their faith.
Your boy is gay. But you know that.
The donation box is by the entrance.
The windows are leaking.
You look like death.
I had a night shift.
Kids, are you ready?
It's hard to see one's
child suffering like that.
Kids, are you coming?
Do you think we can see the stars?
Shall we look?
Look at them.
I wish Mama was here, too.
I know.
One thing before Diego picks
you up for school tomorrow.
I don't want to influence you.
And I won't take this away from you.
I just want to tell you that,
if you're only making this up
and you feel like you can't go back,
nobody will be mad at you.
Not even Mama.
You don't have to do
this for me to love you.
I won't leave you.
Oskar, it's five to!
Come on!
Diego!
You little traitor.
How are you?
We peed standing up and built a tree house.
Come on, I'll show you.
Well, maybe next time.
Maybe. I'll get the luggage.
Where's Lili?
In the bathroom. Taking forever.
Women!
Lili, are you coming?
My name is Oskar. And I'm staying here.
Me, too.
What?
- I told you so.
- Help me up.
Help, I weigh 700 pounds and have no abs!
What have you done to Lili?
- That's your first thought?
You can't admit you
were wrong. Just be happy!
- Happy?
- Yes, for our child!
Unbelievable. Look here.
Child Protective Services sent this.
They're concerned and
want to let us know...
So I raised my voice, it was
nothing. You think I forced him?
- Her!
- Him!
- Diego.
- Who.
Go get Lili.
Don't you get it? He doesn't want to.
- She cut her hair.
- He!
And he...
- She!
- Said she might have...
- He!
- Made it up.
He doesn't get it.
Oskar put his dress away.
He doesn't need Lili anymore.
- Where is she now?
- Who?
Lili! Are you stupid?
I need to talk to her.
At school.
As a boy?
Diego.
Shit.
Why?
What's up?
They don't know he's a boy.
Diego, can you give us a minute?
You enrolled him as a girl?
She was bullied so badly.
She wanted to start over.
Behind my back?
The school knows.
It was so good for her. She felt so good.
Who am I to you?
Do I even matter in this family anymore?
Or have I been erased?
She should make up her mind.
I don't want to fight. I know I
messed up. I just want you to know...
I get it. And I can fix it. Look at Oskar.
The kids need their family back.
No.
You need your family back.
Know what you want, Ben?
Not your family.
There was no time for that with the
house and work and debts and beer.
You want the pictures
hanging on your wall back.
But that's not how it was, Ben. Believe me.
You want your family back?
Then start seeing them as they are.
Look at your child.
And then look into your
heart and tell me it's not true.
Fine.
Let's all look into our hearts,
and let me ask you this:
Do you still love me?
It's a very simple question.
Look at me and say it to my face,
so I finally get it.
Do you still love me?
What exactly about my
situation is hard to understand?
Get lost. Just go away, please.
Marian.
But it is an interesting question.
- I'm reading.
But how can a child be certain,
at that age, that it's in the wrong body?
A child! Where does that come from?
Certainly not from my side.
- No, of course not.
People have it too good.
Maybe.
But it is an interesting question.
Listen to this.
"How to refer to someone who can
neither identify as male nor female?"
What do they say?
- Ze.
- What?
Yeah: It's zeir book.
This is the end of the world.
- No, it's gender-sensitive language.
Which will be the death of literature.
White-washing language is fascism.
You're probably right.
Of course. I'm usually right.
Do you know how many
times I was about to leave you?
- What?
- Nothing.
What's the matter now?
- Nothing. Everything's fine.
And you're probably right.
I'm taking a nap.
It's 3 pm, when I always take a nap.
That won't change.
Until we die.
- But Lia, my love...
- No, Marian.
That's where we're different:
You always want to be right.
And I want my family.
Ms. Gerhardt had diarrhea today.
She went to the toilet three times...
- Oskar!
You smell funny.
Get down, my arm's numb.
If you go home alone, let me
know. I was waiting for you.
What?
How was school?
Oskar, sweetie.
What happened?
Look at me.
Who did that?
Nobody.
Those assholes.
Come here.
Here's what you need to know
to get through life as a man.
There'll always be someone out to get you.
There are just too many
assholes looking to bully someone.
In a fight, there are only two rules.
Hit them first.
As hard as you can.
Understood?
The other guy shouldn't be able to get up.
Come on,
I'll tend to your bruises.
Ice will help.
I'll make you pancakes.
I'll burn them, too.
I have an idea. Wait a sec.
You have to purse your lips...
Just right.
Close your mouth.
Close your eyes.
Now open them again.
Come in, Papa. To the beauty salon.
Sorry, I shouldn't be here. I got
your address from the file, illegally...
Slow down. Speak slowly.
Or I'll need my hearing
aids. First things first.
I have a question.
Just one?
More like a thousand.
Come on in.
Or the neighbors will think
the police are always here.
It's not locked.
"LGBTQ,
I, A, plus..."
G, V, I, J, P, K, E,
there still aren't enough
letters to include everyone.
I don't understand a word.
It's about perception.
People want to be
perceived the way they are.
And we've really come a long way.
But to be honest, I sometimes
wonder: Where's the sense of humor?
But this isn't about you, is it?
Good, or I'd have
recommended another nail polish.
It's about your boy.
It's quite something.
I see.
I'm scared.
I'd like someone to
tell me what's going on.
Tea?
All right, I'll add some rum.
What's going on?
- How old is Lili now?
- Nine.
Nine, well, then you've
still got a few years.
When she enters puberty,
she might be unhappy
because her body won't
develop the way she wants it to.
But there's now medication available
to delay puberty.
But why?
So she doesn't turn out as
tall as a beanstalk, for example.
So that she can decide if
people look at her or not.
Right, makes sense.
But it comes at a price.
No puberty means no kids.
How do you make that kind of decision?
You've got it wrong. You
don't have to decide anything.
There's only one person to decide that.
All you have to do is love your child.
Look.
This has always brought me luck:
a sea horse.
Their males give birth.
Did you sleep badly? You look
like you were run over by a tractor.
- Thanks.
- There's glitter in your beard.
Did I miss something?
Just one moment of your precious time, Ben.
Papa, I'm on duty.
Won't take long.
- It's OK.
- No, we're on patrol.
I'll sit in the back. Drop
me off at the next taxi stand.
No, that's against the
law. Tell him, Seyit.
We do it all the time.
What?
Where to start?
It's clear to me that financially, to
put it mildly, you're not doing well.
I mean, what does a
low-ranking policeman earn?
What do you earn, for example?
- We're not that low-ranking.
How much?
- 2,300 euros a month.
- After tax?
- Before tax.
There you have it.
Then there's the house no one wanted,
child support for the kids you never see
from the relationship that's long gone.
In a word, I wanted to make you an offer.
Thanks, I don't want any gifts from you.
Don't worry, I wouldn't gift you anything.
Live as you like. I'm
not giving you advice.
That never helped anyway.
I opened two bank accounts for the kids.
I just knew you'd interfere.
Could you please take it?
The boy is clever, he's talented.
- He's a girl!
Hello?
- Let's leave that to the psychologists.
See where it gets you. I want
Oskar to go to a good school.
What?
- There's a great Jewish high school...
You don't even know which
school he goes to. She!
I know that, to put it
lightly, school wasn't for you.
The school is fine!
It's the school.
What?
- This is the school?
- Stay in the car.
- I'm glad you came...
- I'm not on duty.
Do something, they beat up a kid again.
Where is he?
What a shitty school
where kids get beaten up!
Get it under control! Hey, are you OK?
- Show me.
- There's been a misunderstanding.
Your child wasn't
beaten, it did the beating.
- What?
- Lili broke a boy's nose.
- What?
- You think that's good?
No, of course not.
Mr. Kornmann, we agreed to
this experiment because we believe
every child needs to be understood.
- The situation however...
- What's going on?
Were you hit?
- Who are you?
- Papa, wait in the car.
Are Jewish citizens being beaten
up at German schools again?
- Under the eyes of...
- Papa.
- Oskar did the beating.
- Lili.
- That's what I meant.
- Really?
Go back to the car.
What do you expect? That
we turn the other cheek?
That we don't respond in kind?
Are you talking to me?
Never mind.
- If you prick us, do we not bleed?
If you tickle us, do we not laugh?
- God, Papa.
"The Merchant of Venice."
Sorry, he's a literature professor.
Enough Shakespeare for
now. Let's face the facts.
We took on Oskar as a girl because
we wanted to add something...
constructive to the situation.
But given the current conflicts,
I have to say
it's getting out of hand.
We would suggest a break for a few days.
- You're expelling Oskar?
- Lili.
- Of course.
- We're not expelling anyone.
We'll wait for things to calm down.
Then we'll all sit down
calmly and discuss it.
Is that what happened
when Oskar was attacked?
Let's be frank.
It's because Oskar is the way he is.
Excuse me?
- Jewish.
- Trans. What?
Look.
See that?
I'm missing three molars
and my eardrum is ruptured.
From when I got beaten
up at Gay Pride in Moscow.
And you're trying to insinuate that I...?
I discriminate against no one.
I'm trying. I'm struggling
for a diverse and open society.
Which, with students from 43 nations,
is a very challenging task indeed.
But let me tell you one
thing from experience.
The problem isn't the students.
The problem is always the parents.
Hence, we notified
Child Protective Services.
What?
- And your wife.
- What?
Ex-wife.
She's going to kill me.
Sorry, Papa.
Don't apologize. You did nothing wrong.
Indeed, you didn't. But
I can tell you who did.
Enough. Let's settle this once and for all.
Seyit, turn on some music. Loud.
Let's see what we've got.
I win like a man. I lose like a man.
Well, that's... hip-hop for you.
I drink whiskey, vodka, beer
and then a coke, like a man.
I'm gonna party hard,
because I work like a man.
I don't know what you mean.
Say it, I'm a failure, a school dropout.
I've ruined my marriage and child.
Sure, you saw it coming.
You're right, as always!
It's your choice to cast
pearls before swine.
Papa, maybe I'm just too stupid!
Nonsense! You just want
to be like everyone else.
Anything but to stand out.
You couldn't even manage that.
Do you even realize how brave this kid is?
Like a dandelion growing
through the pavement.
People may laugh, but
he's still wearing his dress.
I don't care how smart or stupid you are.
What I hold against
you is your lack of guts.
Fine.
I'm glad you came. The subway's over there.
Ben, let's go back to the station.
I'm running out of
excuses. Petra smells a rat.
Peter. The guy's name is Peter.
Don't be so touchy. Let's just get
some cake for the guys to lift the mood.
- What time is it?
- Half past three.
Shit.
- Where's Erna?
- She just left.
She drove home her toy car?
She sat here for 45 minutes,
then we called her father.
- I'm her father.
- Oh.
I thought you were an au pair.
- Who picked her up, for God's sake?
The nice man with the
accent. Five minutes ago.
That cow!
Wait. Go that way.
I'm going back.
No, wait.
- Yes, I'm going back. I've had it.
There he is!
- Why is he going to your place?
Stop the car! Let me out!
Here, take the cake.
Come on!
Run!
Stop!
Faster!
I'll get you!
Stop, you filthy child thief!
Help!
- Mira?
- Mama!
What happened to you?
At school...
- What kind of person are you, Ben?
- Excuse me?
- Didn't I tell you?
He is dangerous. We
can't leave the kids with him.
Is he claiming I hit my kids?
You said you'd put a hole in me.
True, and that I'd smash your face in.
He said he was going to shoot me.
Didn't you?
Now I get it.
You want me to freak out.
I won't do you that favor, buddy.
- What the... is that?
- What?
You been drinking?
I thought he was...
What's the word? Dry.
The kids shouldn't be with...
Stop it!
Stop it now!
Stop it! Diego, stop it!
Come here, kids. Come with me.
Breathe on me, please.
Get in the car, please.
All right.
My love.
- Thank you.
- What for?
For helping us.
I'm helping the children, not you.
Fine by me. All the better.
Diego, can you cook
something nice for the kids?
Of course, my love.
You think the kids are coming with you?
What did she say?
We found a family, they're wonderful people
who help children in need until
the parents sort themselves out.
What?
You just give birth, then find your
bearings and we can discuss the matter.
Stop.
- What?
- Stop!
I didn't mean now.
Shit.
My love, are you OK?
Mama, are you OK?
It's starting. Close the door.
- It's fine.
- You OK?
Let's go!
Shit.
- Stop!
- What?
Where's Lili?
Lili, where are you?
Find my child!
Find! My! Child!
What are you doing? Are you crazy?
Let go!
Your kid's gone.
Didn't you hear me? Your kid's gone.
Both of them.
You win.
- Are you crazy?
- Wake up! Wake up, idiot!
You won. What more do you want?
We need you! Pull
yourself together, damn it!
We need you!
Oskar...
is gone.
What?
What happened, Ben? He might've run
onto the highway.
No, then there'd be...
ambulances, my colleagues...
But what if...
- he got into a truck?
- What?
With a sex offender or a drug mule.
You're making things worse.
He could be anywhere. It's impossible.
If something happens to him, it's my fault.
Get my parents.
Call the police. The state
I'm in, I'll lose custody.
Off you go. Go!
Come out now, damn it! That's enough!
Come on. Get yourself together.
Where are you?
We're about to close. This way, please.
- Just one second.
- We're open again tomorrow.
- Just one.
I need you to make
your way to the checkout.
Please.
Seriously, I lost my child.
But you just walked in.
I need to...
- Dear customers, we're closing now.
One thing.
One...
I know you can hear me.
I'm a little...
I don't know how to say this...
It's that guy again.
Oskar, I swear, everything will be...
- Let go of me!
- He left his kids here.
Leave now or we'll call the police.
I am the police, asshole!
I love you!
Let me go!
- Sober up and everything will be fine.
- He's in there.
- We would've seen him.
But he's in there!
- If he is, we'll take him to the police.
It'll be all right.
It'll be all right.
Wait! Wait...
- I called out the wrong kid.
- What?
I mean, I said the wrong name.
Her name is Lili. You
need to call out Lili.
Just get some rest.
There you are.
Are you OK? What are you
doing? Where have you been?
I wanted to disappear.
Lili, you're only nine,
what were you thinking?
We were scared to death,
you can't just run away.
I didn't want to run away.
I wanted to disappear.
Why?
I thought the world would
be better off without me.
You're all fighting
because of the way I am.
No, we're not fighting because of you.
You're not the problem. We are.
It's our fault. We're...
We're to take care of you.
Why aren't I like everybody else, Papa?
Nobody is like everybody else.
I mean, normal.
Normal is just the average of
all the crazy people out there.
Too complicated?
I'm not stupid.
I know.
Look.
I don't care what you are.
What you call yourself, if you
wear a dress or play soccer.
You're my child.
You can't scare me like that.
Do you know why I stayed?
No, why?
I was afraid something would happen to you.
You were so drunk.
I wanted to take care of you.
I'm sorry, sweetie.
I'm a terrible father.
You're OK, Papa. You're OK the way you are.
Come on.
They're so beautiful.
They look like they're 100 years old.
Bad-tempered old men.
- Let me see.
- Come here.
Look, Erna, you used to be this ugly, too.
Tiny, mean old men.
Girls! They're girls, OK?
Hello, come in.
- Where are the little ones?
In an incubator! I hope that doesn't
mean their growth will be stunted.
It's not an incubator, it's Plexiglas.
This cream helps against stretch marks.
After a birth like that,
nothing will be the same again.
Mama, please!
- Now...
- Congratulations.
Could you get a vase,
please? We need a vase.
A vase.
Water is in the bathroom, where else.
So, what's this rabbit's name?
Oh, God.
- Is there water in it?
- Of course.
Thanks, I'll take over.
My God.
Look at that.
You were so little then.
Here.
Hide it.
But where?
Wherever you want. Only you need to know.
For future use.
You never know.
- In the garden?
- Why not?
But it'll rot.
Don't look.
What's the matter?
Nothing.
Everything's fine.
Oh my.
I can see you.
Yes, all right.
Ready?
This is the last time, OK?
Let me see.
I promise.
We spoke to everybody.
Everybody knows.
It's a fantastic school.
Papa's here.
Take a look.
For all the families who
shared their stories with us.
Actually. For all families.