König Laurin (2016)

Theo is heir to the throne and, at 16, still much too short for his age. His father, King Dietrich, is a stubborn hardhead who is not impressed by his son’s sharp mind. He is convinced that a proper king is distinguished by physical strength, so Theo has to endure a punishing course of physical training. King Dietrich cares very little that his people are suffering. Ever since he banished the dwarves from his kingdom, not a shrub or tree has grown and flourished there. During an outing in the mountains—a further test for Theo—he falls into a gorge. There, Theo is rescued by Laurin, the King of the Dwarves, who takes him to his garden in the mountain ravines. In return, Theo is to do his rescuer a favor and collect all the snails in the dwarf king’s garden. After initial skepticism, the fateful encounter between Theo and King Laurin soon develops into an unusual friendship. Theo must learn what it means to break free from the constraints of his surroundings. In the end, King Laurin is recognized as a second king alongside King Dietrich.