The Mad Twins – Hanni & Nanni (2010)

Directed by: Christine Hartmann | 85 minutes | family | Actors: Sophia Münster, Jana Münster, Heino Ferch, Anja Kling, Hannelore Elsner, Katharina Thalbach, Suzanne von Borsody, Sophia Thomalla, Oliver Pocher, Sunnyi Melles, Lisa Vicari, Joram Voelklein, Emilie Kundrun, Zoe Thurau, Amina Heinemann, Davina Schmid Ricarda Zimmerer, Aleen Jana Kötter, Eva Haushofer, Franca Bolenga, Maxine Göbel

We have to go far back in time to get to the moment when British author Enid Blyton wrote her famous ‘St. Clare’s series’ wrote. In 1941 the first book was published about the mischievous twins Patricia (Pat) and Isabel O’Sullivan, who are sent to St. Clare’s boarding school by their parents because they have become too spoiled. The twins became extremely popular, especially in Germany. In 1965 a German language version, ‘Hanni und Nanni’, of the first book was published. Of course, the necessary adjustments were made to the story. For example, St. Clare’s was renamed the more German-sounding ‘Lindenhof’ and where the girls played lacrosse in the British version, it was replaced by handball. Because seventy years later the books still capture the imagination of German teenage girls – and because their mothers also devoured Enid Blyton’s books – our eastern neighbors decided to make a film version of ‘Hanni und Nanni’, which appeared in 2010. A dubbed version, with the voices of Peggy Vrijens, Marjolein Algera, Cystine Carreon and Fatima Moreira de Melo, among others, will be released in Dutch cinemas in the summer of 2011 under the title ‘The mad twins’.

A story that is seven decades old can of course be ‘pimped up’ a bit. But although a lot has changed compared to Blyton’s book, a nostalgic air lingers around the story. ‘The mad twins’ (2010) gets off to a brisk start, with a lively action scene in and around a shopping center. The film doesn’t get any more vibrant than that. Hanni and Nanni (Sophia and Jana Münster) are involved in a competition to see who can move the hockey ball with their stick the longest (yes, handball has since been exchanged for hockey) without letting go. They ended up in a chic department store, where of course things go wrong. They only get really big problems when they are accused of theft. Because it is not the first time that the girls get into trouble, their parents Julie (Anja Kling) and Georg (Heino Ferch) decide to send the girls to a boarding school. Mother does have good memories of her time at Lindenhof, but because the girls are far from enthusiastic, it takes a lot of effort to bring them there.

At Lindenhof, Hanni and Nanni are initially real outsiders. Because Hanni in particular does not mince words and openly admits that she wants to leave school as soon as possible, she regularly gets into trouble. Whether intentionally or not, she also takes her sister Nanni with her in her regions. Especially with the strict Miss Magelein (Suzanne von Borsody) they regularly get into trouble. However, friendships also blossom. The calm Nanni also sees opportunities to go her own way – unlike her sporty sister, she doesn’t like hockey but classical music. She would love to earn a spot in the orchestra. Hanni is only busy with the approaching hockey game against her old school, which she must and will win. Lindenhof, however, has not won a match for years…

‘The Mad Twins’ was directed by Christine Hartmann. For teenage girls, this film offers enough entertainment. Everything they like will pass. For example, in addition to the girls themselves and their adventures, there is a budding crush and a tiny subplot around a horse. They won’t worry too much about the way things are worked out. The neutral film viewer all the more. Because the plot is wafer thin and a tension arc is hard to find. Some issues are mentioned – the financial problems of the Lindenhof, for example – but they are just as easily skipped. In fact, nothing is considered for long, which gives the film a fleeting, episodic character. Because the film does not go into depth anywhere, little is expected of the young protagonists. In fact, they just need to be photogenic. The adults come across as quite caricatured, except for the girls’ mother and the head teacher (played by Hannelore Elsner). And there can still be such loud beats under the film and so much can be talked about iPods, ‘The mad twins’ sounds old-fashioned.

So the film can be criticized quite a bit. Still, ‘The Mad Twins’ is not a complete flop. The film may not have a real story, but it still manages to hold the attention sufficiently. The pace is nice and fast and the young protagonists are fun to watch. The cheeky Hanni and Nanni will certainly appeal to girls of about ten years old. Behind their recalcitrant behavior are two exemplary girlfriends.