18 Jan Movie Review: The Elfkins – Baking a Difference

The legendary Elfkins (Heinzelmännchen) of Cologne were gnomes secretly helping craftsmen at night until they were ousted by a tailor’s malevolent wife 200 years ago. This is the story of their return. Reviewed by the Australian Council on Children and the Media (ACCM)

Full review see: The Elfkins

Rated G | Duration 1h 18min | Themes Action, Comedy, Family

Not suitable under 4; parental guidance to 5 (violence, scary scenes)

In a nutshell

The Elfkins – Baking a Difference is an animated, comic family movie. The background sets are quite impressive and the Elfkins are cute. The movie explores the issues of individual competitiveness versus working together as a group. The brothers, Theo and Bruno, have become rival enemies but things work out well in the end. This movie is best suited to children aged 6 and over and, as there is quite a lot of violence, parental guidance is recommended for children aged 4-5.

The main messages from this movie are to help others and to work together, rather than against each other.

Values in this movie that parents may wish to reinforce with their children include:

• Positivity
• Determination
• Kindness
• Forgiveness
• Helping others, even our enemies.

This movie could also give parents the opportunity to discuss with their children attitudes and behaviours, and their real-life consequences, such as:

• Holding on to old animosities doesn’t do any good, it only hurts everyone. It is much better to forgive and move on with life.

• See the trailer here