Der Froschkönig (2018)

The film reimagines the Brothers Grimm fairy tale “The Frog Prince, or Iron Henry.” Isabelle, the youngest daughter of a wealthy castle hotel owner, loses a necklace with a golden ball that she inherited from her mother after meeting up with friends at an upscale restaurant. Jimi, who cleans the aquariums at the restaurant as a diver and fell in love with Isabelle at first sight, retrieves the necklace for her from a sewer shaft. In return, Isabelle has to sign a contract with him and show him the world of the rich and beautiful. For four weeks, he plans to accompany her everywhere and learn how to navigate high society. Isabelle initially finds Jimi annoying, but he later proves to be an extremely charming companion. After finishing her studies, Isabelle wants to find a place for herself at the castle hotel alongside her father, Simeon Herzog, and her two half-sisters, Lea and Lilly. To that end, she takes on the task of organizing the annual fundraising gala for a children’s home and inviting prominent sponsors. She has to win over the eccentric Hermann von Lichtenstein, who only knows Isabelle’s older sisters and initially takes her for an impostor. Jimi, who follows Isabelle everywhere, quickly realizes that she is approaching her task the wrong way. He shows her where he grew up: in a children’s home. With his help, Isabelle manages to persuade the sponsors, and the gala is a great success. Meanwhile, the story of Jimi’s friend and roommate Heinrich unfolds. He is a biker and works as a cook at the restaurant where Jimi cleans the aquariums. Heinrich is in love with his colleague Betty, who barely pays him any attention. Only when Heinrich stands up for her to their boss, who stabs him, does she recognize his good heart and turn to him. The fundraising gala takes place at the hotel, and Isabelle introduces Jimi to her friend because she believes he has spent the past few weeks only to meet this woman. She is sad because by then she has fallen in love with Jimi herself. The misunderstanding is cleared up, however, and the two become a couple. The film ends with Isabelle planning to buy her own hotel and run it together with Jimi.