The improvised comedy “Micha denkt groß” will premiere on November 1, 2024, following its cinema release in August. Directed by Jan Georg Schütte and Lars Jessen, the film addresses the serious issue of water scarcity in a comedic format. It follows Micha, who, after failures in Berlin, seeks to transform his late parents’ hotel into a luxurious wellness retreat in his hometown. The film recently won the Bernd Burgemeister Prize at the Munich Film Festival for Best TV Film.
Following its premiere in August, the improvised comedy ‘Micha thinks big’ (2024) is set to air tonight (November 1) at 8:15 PM on ARD.
The film’s creators, Jan Georg Schütte (61, ‘Kommissar Dupin’) and Lars Jessen (55, ‘Vadder, Kutter, Sohn’), were keen on showcasing it in theaters as well. Schütte noted, “This gives us the chance to connect with our audience personally, which is often lost in a purely television broadcast.” The intent was to engage in dialogue with viewers, as Jessen emphasized, “This topic concerns us all.” The team and stars traveled to over 30 cinemas from Kiel to the Ore Mountains to discuss potential solutions to ongoing crises with local communities. According to the broadcaster, ‘scientists and many dedicated individuals from civil society’ participated in these discussions.
Award at the Munich Film Festival
During its cinema tour, ‘Micha thinks big’ received its first accolade. Producers Maren Knieling and Lars Jessen of Florida Film were awarded the Bernd Burgemeister Prize at the Munich Film Festival on June 30, 2024. This co-production between ARD Degeto Film and MDR, focusing on the struggle for land and water, won in the category of ‘Best TV Film’.
The Plot of ‘Micha thinks big’
Micha (Charly Hübner, 51) left his hometown, the fictional East German village of Klein-Schappleben in Saxony-Anhalt, early on to establish a successful gaming startup in Berlin. After a failed second venture and battling burnout, this ‘visionary and founder’ seeks a fresh start in the countryside. At a community meeting, Micha unveils his plans to transform the old hotel owned by his deceased parents into a luxury wellness hotel that combines ‘work, creativity, enjoyment, and happiness.’
While Mayor Moni Hoffmann (Annett Sawallisch, 37) and mobile massage therapist Tina Oppermann (Jördis Triebel, 47) are enthusiastic, the rest of the village remains doubtful. For farmers like organic sheep breeder Jonas Oppermann (Ulrich Brandhoff, 39) and large-scale farmer Hermann Köppe (Peter Kurth, 67, ‘Two to One’), the urgent water issues in their region take precedence…
A Comedy Tackling the Serious Issue of Water Scarcity
Creating a comedy that addresses the serious and socially relevant problem of water scarcity is a significant challenge, as Schütte acknowledges. “The major task was to create a theme film without being moralistic,” he admits. He emphasizes, “Documentaries aren’t for everyone. Through entertainment, we hope to reach a broader audience.” Regarding the supposed incompatibility of water scarcity, comedy, and improvisation, the expert states, “Water scarcity is a harsh reality that many people ignore. Humor can help alleviate the fear surrounding this subject, and improvisation allows for a more personal storytelling approach.” Jessen adds that humor can have liberating effects and foster an optimistic outlook for the future.
This forward-looking perspective is underscored by facts presented in the credits of the fictional story: “Since 2000, Germany loses 2.5 trillion liters of water annually. This is equivalent to the volume of Lake Constance, making Germany one of the regions with the highest water loss worldwide.”
Improvisation Stars with a Love for the East
Jan Georg Schütte has directed and written several successful improvised TV films, including ‘Altersglühen – Speed Dating for Seniors’ (2014), ‘Wellness für Paare’ (2016), ‘Klassentreffen’ (2019), ‘Tatort: Das Team’ (2020, farewell episode of Münster favorite Nadeshda Krusenstern), ‘Für immer Sommer 90’ (2021), ‘Kranitz’ (2021), ‘Das Begräbnis’ (2022), and ‘Das Fest der Liebe’ (2023). He is currently working on sequels to his last two films under the working title ‘The Wedding.’
Many of these projects also feature former ‘Polizeiruf 110’ star Charly Hübner. Schütte and Hübner not only share a passion for improvisational acting but also display significant enjoyment, eloquence, and, notably, humility in their collaborations. Schütte impressively showcases this humility as the unconventional thinker and prepper Bernd Schlüter in ‘Micha thinks big.’
A recurring theme in the projects of Hübner and Schütte is their