AMRUM

The film’s main character was twelve years old and appeared in every scene, which meant that we had to comply with child labour regulations and limited working hours.
Filming took place on Amrum, an island in the North Sea located approximately three hours from the mainland and characterized by a significant tidal range. As a result, scheduling the beach scenes required careful coordination of the tides, weather conditions, crew breaks, and the restricted working hours for the child actors.
We also had very few weather cover options.
Several scenes involved working with animals and children, including sequences shot at sea in a very small sailing boat under strong wind and tidal conditions, while the actors performed two pages of dialogue.
The Assistant Director department was very small (German system), and the film was produced on a relatively tight budget.
Supporting artists on the island required very specific casting and were sourced locally without the support of a casting agency.

WE HAD A FABULOUS TIME

Amrum is a wonderful little island and we can’t wait to go back soon.
The islanders were incredibly warm and supportive — they really went out of their way to help us throughout the shoot.
It was also very interesting to watch Fatih Akin interpret and connect with Hark Bohm’s story and his family history. Seeing his perspective on the material brought something very special to the film.
And while the story is told through the eyes of a child, a film with a child as its main character can absolutely still be a story for adults.