Rico, Oskar und die Tieferschatten (2014)

Ten-year-old Rico, who describes himself as “slow-witted,” lives alone with his mother at 93 Dieffenbachstraße in Berlin-Kreuzberg. One day, he meets Oskar, who is two years younger, and quickly realizes that the boy is very different from him. Oskar knows a great deal for his age and is quick to make connections. He is considered highly gifted, but unfortunately is constantly afraid of the big and small dangers of everyday life. Despite their differences, the two boys become friends. Meanwhile, a child kidnapper is on the loose in Berlin. He is called “Mister 2000” because he demands 2,000 euros in ransom for his victims. Oskar decides to unmask the villain on his own, without Rico finding out. Then Oskar suddenly disappears, and Rico is at a loss. However, he concludes that Mister 2000 must have abducted Oskar because Rico finds a pin that belonged to a former victim and that only Oskar could have left behind as a clue. So he follows the kidnapper’s trail, which first leads him to Berlin-Schöneberg. He meets the girl who owned the pin and eventually realizes that Oskar is being held captive in the rear building at “Dieffe 93.” The “deep shadows” Rico had always been able to see there came from the kidnapper and the abducted children. Rico quickly frees Oskar, but the kidnapper is already on their heels. It is Mr. Marrak, who also lives at 93 Dieffenbachstraße. After a wild escape and an awkward scuffle, Mr. Marrak is struck on the head by a falling stone. The grumpy Mr. Gustav Fitzke wanted some peace and quiet and had hurled it down. Mister 2000 is unmasked, and the children are celebrated as heroes. Rico only finds this out when he wakes up in the hospital. He had lost consciousness after the fight with Mr. Marrak.