You know that feeling when you're scrolling through Netflix and you see a premise that sounds like a total fish-out-of-water disaster, but you click anyway? That’s basically the vibe of Rumspringa. It’s a 2022 German comedy that leans hard into the "Amish guy discovers the big city" trope. But honestly, it works. A huge part of why it works isn’t just the script—it’s the actors. The cast of Rumspringa An Amish in Berlin manages to take a concept that could have been incredibly cheesy and actually gives it some heart.
Jacob, the lead, is played by Jonas Holdenrieder. If you haven't seen his work before, you're missing out. He has this wide-eyed, innocent look that is basically mandatory for playing an Amish kid on his Rumspringa. He’s the anchor. He’s the one we follow as he leaves the farm behind and heads to Berlin to find his roots. Or at least, to find his grandpa. But as we all know, movie trips to Berlin rarely go exactly as planned.
The Faces Behind the Characters: Breakout Performances
When we look at the cast of Rumspringa An Amish in Berlin, Jonas Holdenrieder is clearly the star, but he isn’t carrying the movie alone. Let’s talk about Timur Bartels. He plays Alfons, the guy who basically becomes Jacob's guide to the chaos of modern German life.
Timur brings this frantic, high-energy contrast to Jonas’s quiet, observant performance. It’s a classic buddy comedy dynamic. Alfons is the "cool" city kid who maybe isn't as cool as he thinks he is. You might recognize Timur from Club der roten Bänder (The Red Band Society). He’s got that natural charisma that makes you like him even when his character is being a bit of an idiot.
Then there’s Rauand Taleb. He plays Bo. If you’ve watched 4 Blocks, you know Rauand can do grit, but here he shows a different side. The chemistry between these three guys—Jacob, Alfons, and Bo—is what keeps the movie from feeling like a one-note joke about butter churning. They feel like a real, messy group of friends.
Why the Casting Matters for Cultural Representation
It’s easy to poke fun at the Amish. Most movies do. However, the cast of Rumspringa An Amish in Berlin treats the characters with more respect than you’d expect from a slapstick comedy.
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Gizem Emre plays Frieda. She’s fantastic. You might know her from the Fack ju Göhte series. In Rumspringa, she provides a romantic interest that doesn't feel forced. She represents the "modern world" that Jacob is so terrified of, but she does it with a lot of nuance. She’s a tattoo artist. She’s edgy. She’s everything an Amish boy shouldn't be interested in. Yet, the way they interact feels grounded.
The supporting cast includes some veteran German actors too.
- Nicole Johannhanwahr plays Jacob's mother. She has very little screen time but manages to convey that heavy, traditional weight of the Amish community.
- Adnan Maral shows up as well. He’s a legend in German TV, specifically known for Türkisch für Anfänger.
- Enno Hesse plays the character Aurel.
Berlin as a Character
In many ways, the city itself is a member of the cast of Rumspringa An Amish in Berlin. The cinematography captures the overwhelming nature of the city. We see the neon lights, the crowded subways, and the relentless noise through Jacob’s eyes.
Director Antej Farac really leaned into the contrast. You have these silent, golden-hued shots of the farm at the beginning. Then, boom. You're in a techno club in Berlin. The transition is jarring. It's supposed to be.
Most people watching this might wonder how accurate the "Amish" part actually is. Short answer: it’s a movie. It takes liberties. The Pennsylvania Dutch spoken in the film isn't always 100% authentic, and some of the Amish traditions are dialed up for comedic effect. But if you're watching a Netflix comedy for a deep ethnographic study of the Anabaptist movement, you're probably in the wrong place.
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The Dynamics of Jacob and Alfons
The heart of the film is the relationship between Jacob and Alfons. Honestly, it’s the most relatable part. Who hasn't felt like a total outsider at some point? Jacob is literally from another century. Alfons is trying to navigate his own failures in the 21st century.
There's a specific scene where they're at a party, and Jacob is just trying to process the music. The way Jonas Holdenrieder plays it is gold. He doesn't look like an actor "acting" confused. He looks genuinely overstimulated.
Beyond the Screen: Where Have You Seen Them Before?
If you're like me, you spent half the movie thinking, "Wait, where do I know that guy from?" Here is a quick rundown of the cast of Rumspringa An Amish in Berlin and their other big hits:
- Jonas Holdenrieder: Check out The Golden Glove or Suck Me Shakespeer 3. He’s been working steadily in Germany for years.
- Timur Bartels: As mentioned, Club der roten Bänder is his claim to fame. He’s also a musician.
- Gizem Emre: She’s a staple in German cinema now. Fack ju Göhte is the big one, but she’s also in The Last Cop.
- Rauand Taleb: 4 Blocks is mandatory viewing if you want to see his range. It’s a very different vibe from Rumspringa.
The film also features Tijan Marei, who plays Sarah. She adds another layer to the social circle Jacob finds himself in. It’s a young, vibrant cast. They represent the modern, multicultural face of Berlin, which is the perfect foil for Jacob’s traditional upbringing.
What Most People Get Wrong About Rumspringa
There is a big misconception that Rumspringa is just a wild party phase. In reality, for the Amish, it's a period of serious reflection. It's the time when they decide if they want to be baptized into the church or leave forever.
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The movie focuses on the "wild" side because, well, it’s a comedy. But the cast of Rumspringa An Amish in Berlin manages to sneak in those moments of doubt. Jacob isn't just looking for beer and girls; he’s looking for his identity. He’s looking for his grandfather’s story. He’s trying to figure out if he actually fits in the world he was born into.
That’s why the ending hits differently than your average teen comedy. It’s not just about whether he stays in Berlin or goes back to the farm. It’s about the fact that he now has a choice.
Actionable Takeaways for Your Watchlist
If you enjoyed the cast of Rumspringa An Amish in Berlin, you should definitely dive deeper into modern German cinema. It's currently in a bit of a golden age on streaming platforms.
- Watch '4 Blocks' if you want to see Rauand Taleb in a high-stakes crime drama. It’s a complete 180 from his role as Bo.
- Follow Jonas Holdenrieder on Instagram if you want to see behind-the-scenes looks at his latest projects; he’s very active in the German indie scene.
- Check out 'Club der roten Bänder' for more of Timur Bartels. It’s a tear-jerker, but his performance is top-tier.
- Look for Antej Farac’s other work. He has a very specific visual style that makes even simple comedies look like high-art cinema.
The movie might be a lighthearted comedy, but the talent involved is serious. It’s a great entry point into the German film industry for international viewers.
To get the most out of your viewing experience, try watching the film in its original German audio with subtitles. A lot of the humor in the cast of Rumspringa An Amish in Berlin comes from the linguistic barrier between Jacob’s dialect and the "Berliner Schnauze" (Berlin slang) of the locals. Much of that gets lost in the English dubbing. Seeing the physical performances of Jonas and Timur alongside their original voice work makes the chemistry much more apparent and the jokes land much harder.