Martin Stührk is Kalli Spielplatz
	For Martin Stührk (12), the role of Kalli Spielplatz is – after the TV movie “Ein ganzer Kerl für Mama” (A Big Guy for Mama – 2002) – his second movie role. Martin lives in Munich where he also goes to secondary school. He loves playing soccer. In “Der zehnte Sommer”, he plays the 9-year-old Kalli Spielplatz, a real devil, whose favorite pastime is being with his “blood” brothers, Polli and Walter – and with Franzi, who is the same age and with whom he is secretly in love. Kalli is a dreamer, in whose perception fantasy and reality constantly seem to merge seamlessly. In reality, he lives with his parents and his sister in a small apartment, wears lederhosen, and goes to church on Sundays. In his pretend world, Kalli is a king, who – with a crown and a purple cloak – races through the streets on his bright-red scooter, conducting witty monologs and has big plans for his future. Kalli sets up a zoo with his pals, a zoo for which he is given the unexpected gift of the monkey, Kappu. However, none of the adults are allowed to find out about the existence of Kappu, after all, adults also have their secrets. Kalli only lets the beautiful Mrs. Hilfers in on the secret. She treats him like a little prince. What does confuse Kalli somewhat is the glowing red pillow that so frequently appears in the window of his enigmatic neighbor, and his father’s visits, which Kalli is secretly witness to. In his insecurity, Kalli pays the mysterious woman a visit and when he leaves, she kisses him...
	Michelle Barthel is Franzi
	Michelle Barthel appears in her debut film role in “Der zehnte Sommer”. The 9-year-old from Münsterland loves to dance and takes ballet lessons. She participates in a drama-group. In “Der zehnte Sommer”, she plays the neighbor’s cheeky, aware daughter, Franzi, who has fallen in love with the 9-year-old Kalli. Franzi’s strict mother, a gossip, who comments on the activities throughout the neighborhood from her window, does not approve of the friendship between her daughter and the unruly Kalli. She keeps threatening to ground Franzi and to hit her if Franzi as much as goes anywhere near the reviled Mrs. Hilfers. However, this does not stop the self-confident Franzi doing what she has to do.
	Pino Severino-Geysen is Polli
	To date, Pino Severino-Geysen (12) has appeared in the television series “Die Anrheiner” (2002) and in several TV shows such as the “Mini-Playback-Show”. Pino loves singing and dancing. In “Der zehnte Sommer”, he plays the dreamy, sometimes slightly subdued Polli, one of Kalli’s “blood” brothers. Polli prefers to spend his time with his pals in the woods or setting up the zoo. Polli has not been dealt a good hand by fate: his father is an alcoholic and particularly fond of small-time fraud, and his mother has deserted him. His big brother, Heinz, does not look after him particularly well, either. Hence, little Polli is more or less left to his own devices.
	David Kötter is Walter
	David Kötter also has experience with television. He appeared in “Kleiner Mann sucht großes Herz” (Little Man Seeks Big Heart – directed by: Heidi Kranz, 2001) with Mark Keller, in “Bloch – Ein begrabener Hund” (Bloch – a Buried Dog) with Dieter Pfaff (directed by: Peter Schulze-Rohr, 2002), and in the TV series “Die Anrheiner” (2002). The 12-year-old native of Wuppertal loves playing soccer. In “Der zehnte Sommer”, David Kötter plays Walter, the business mogul among the trio of “blood” brothers. The larger boy seems more pensive and tidier than his pals.
	Martin, Michelle, Pino und David
	Interview
	Martin, the role of Kalli is only your second appearance in a movie. How did it come about?
	Martin: This time, I was recommended by Daniel Koppelkamm, the movie’s cameraman, because we had worked together before. Unlike in the case of the first movie, I was not approached in the schoolyard.
	And what was the situation with you, Michelle? This is your first movie.
	Michelle: After the audition, it took a while before Jörg called saying that it was my lucky day and that I could pick up the script. I was over the moon! I really like the story, particularly what happens with the monkey, it’s so exciting.
	Martin, how do you like Kalli?
	Martin: I think he’s really cool. I think he is just entering puberty or something like that.
	And what do you think of Franzi, Michelle?
	Michelle: She’s actually like me! She laughs a lot, is playful, a little cheeky, but also a little shy. I also like playing outdoors and don’t have a Gameboy. However, I certainly don’t have a strict mother!
	Michelle, you’ve have been playing with the boys almost for a full four weeks now – what’s it been like?
	Michelle: Well, they’re actually really nice, but they sometimes teamed together against me, I didn’t like that. When David’s sister, who plays Ursel, arrived, I was really thrilled. I no longer felt quite so alone. Martin, Pino, David – in chorus: That’s so not true!
	Will you remain friends even after the movie?
	Martin: I think that we will meet up again, although we do live quite far apart. Pino: I would love to, that would be really cool. Michelle: I think we will. I actually got on quite well and they always apologized if they acted stupid. David: I thought it was good.
	Was the language in the movie, which takes place 40 years ago, not a little strange for you sometimes?
	Michelle: Yes, in the case of some weird words, I actually had to ask what they meant. Martin: No, actually not. David: Sometimes it was difficult, but I always read through my lines once again before shooting. And that’s the way it was for this movie, too. Pino: I don’t know. I rehearse my lines three to five times and I actually remember them even if there are some difficult words in them.
	And what did you think of the old-fashioned clothes and hairstyles for the children?
	Martin: I don’t like Kalli’s lederhosen at all, because you can’t wear boxer shorts under them. And I found the side parting in my hair quite weird, as I was unable to use hair gel. Michelle: Well, I thought the clothes and the hairdo were really great! I would love to have the dress I wore most in the movie. David: I haven’t even thought about them. In the future, when we look back at today’s photos of us, we probably also think: “Did we really look like that back then!?
	Do you have a favorite scene?
	Martin: I have two: one of them is the scene in the gravel pit, and the other is when I fall out of the tree. Michelle: I thought the scene where Franzi and Kalli are alone in the woods really cute, because I have been in love before. But I really hated the rain scene. Pino: I thought the scene in the camp was great, when I sit on top of the car and we talk about this and that until I start talking about my film father. David: I actually liked all the scenes – playing with the other children and the monkey.
	Isn’t it boring or strenuous when scenes have to be repeated?
	Pino: I thought it was a little irritating sometimes. Martin: You forget about the strain and stress once the movie is finished. Michelle: I didn’t mind that at all. David: That’s the way it is making movies.
	Do you want to continue acting?
	Martin: I want to finish school first, where I play loads of soccer. In a year’s time, I’ll make up my mind whether I want to be an actor or not. Michelle: Sure! I perform in theater a lot and hope that I will be invited to lots of castings. David: I guess so. I have worked hard at it and if I get the part, then I’m there. Pino: I would really like to. But if it doesn’t work out, then I’ll become a singer or dancer.