If you’ve ever watched a movie where someone’s life turns upside down, you might like Rumspringa. In this Netflix Original directed by Mira Thiel, a young Amish man travels to Berlin on a rite of passage to connect with his roots, explore other ways of life, fall in love — and face a big decision. The film stars Jonas Holdenrieder, Timur Bartels, Rauand Taleb alongside other cast members. The movie has a runtime of 102 minutes.
– Rumspringa review doesn’t contain any spoilers –
Rumspringa Is an Intriguing Look at a Unique Coming-of-Age Tradition
The movie is a little slow, but it has its moments. The film, Rumspringa, is vibrant and full of life. It explores the coming-of-age tradition of the Amish people and shows how it’s changed over time. The movie is a fascinating and thought-provoking exploration of the tension between tradition and modernity.
This film is unique because it explores a culture that many people don’t know much about, yet it still manages to be accessible and engaging. It also tackles themes such as family, identity, and belonging so that everyone can relate to them on some level. The movie’s most exciting quality, though, might be its use of colour—the cinematography is gorgeous! It will leave you wanting more after every scene.
There are many things to love about the film, the new film by the director Mira Thiel. Its protagonist is a charming and sympathetic young man who goes through a rite of passage in the Amish community: travelling to Berlin to explore the world outside their insular community. The film is visually attractive, with its stark colour palette standing out against the bright lights of Berlin.
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The Filmmaker’s Approach to Rumspringa was Exploratory
The language it uses is both visceral and pleasing to the ear. It’s easy to fall for the film’s main character as he falls for a young woman who takes him under her wing and introduces him to the modern world. However, there are just as many things that make Rumspringa a challenging watch. The young man seems like he’s on a journey to find himself and his place in the world, but it quickly becomes apparent that he has no intention of leaving his community. He wants to experience these things while away from home before returning there.
Rumspringa is a hard film to watch. The core story is constantly interrupted by the filmmaker’s need to show audiences how wrongheaded and hypocritical the religious community is. This movie is not about showing the true nature of the Amish people but about proving that their ideas are flawed. And it does so in an incredibly condescending way.
What’s even more upsetting is that Rumspringa could have been a great film if its creators had just let the story be told without all of the added criticism. The main character is a sensitive young man named Aaron who wants to have an adventure before committing himself to the Amish lifestyle. Thus, just his story would have been enough for the audience to bring their own conclusion without the added judgement.
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Rumspringa is a Unique Story Short on Substance
The Amish community is fascinating—from their plain dress to the men’s long beards, they have a reputation for living an elementary life. Yet the movie Rumspringa (which means “running around”) shows that the Amish are not so different from us. This is a movie that leaves you wanting more. It’s a coming-of-age story.
The Amish lead life in harmony with nature. They reject modern technology and conveniences that involve power or machinery, such as cars, telephones, television and electric lighting. Most Amish continue to speak Pennsylvania German (known as Plautdietsch) at home though many can talk to English proficiently as well.
Stream it or Skip It?
With the setup, you might expect a movie about Rumspringa to be filled with hijinks and debauchery. But instead, the screenwriter, Ana Cristina Tarpo, paints a decidedly more sombre picture in his film.
Rumspringa‘s pacing, however, was sometimes problematic. Several times throughout the film, it seemed as if key character development moments were being skipped over. The film has a real sense of ennui throughout, with long sequences that don’t seem to go anywhere and a languid pace.
Rumspringa is currently streaming on Netflix.