The Family Jewels

2004 1h 27m DE

👍

6.6

SOLID

★6.6TMDB · 22

ComedyDrama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Martin is the ambitious one in the family. He is poised to start on his doctorate, when he is diagnosed with testicular cancer and all his future plans begin to unravel. The removal of one testicle reduces the most immediate threat, but the cancer has already spread and Martin's doctor argues for an operation that would save him, but could also castrate him.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

WhatsApp X Facebook Telegram

Cast

Wotan Wilke Möhring
Martin Schwarz
Julia Hummer
Susanne
Antoine Monot Jr.
Harry
Alexander Beyer
Roman Schwarz
Janek Rieke
Nickel
Doris Schretzmayer
Schwester Elke
Götz Schubert
Dr. Bofinger
Fatih Cevikkollu
Pfleger

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Robert Schwentke
Writers: Robert Schwentke
Languages: German
Countries: Germany

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

87 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 22 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Robert Schwentke, shot by Florian Ballhaus. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Martin Todsharow. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Hans Funck shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Wotan Wilke Möhring and Julia Hummer and Antoine Monot Jr. carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0297871 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Robert Schwentke directs. Florian Ballhaus behind the camera. Martin Todsharow scores. Hans Funck cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in Germany. Dialogue in German.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

187 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
2Released 22 years ago.
3Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
4Directed by Robert Schwentke, shot by Florian Ballhaus. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Martin Todsharow. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Hans Funck shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Wotan Wilke Möhring and Julia Hummer and Antoine Monot Jr. carry the top of the cast.
8IMDB entry: tt0297871 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Only 22 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.