“Heiko’s World” (German title: “Heikos Welt“) is a feature film by Dominik Galizia about the Berlin cult cat Heiko. The character of Heiko, embodied by Martin Rohde, first appeared in the music video „Nettelbeckplatz“ by Shacke One (published on the YouTube channel of the Berlin hip-hop label Nordachse). The appeal of the character to fans was enormous, resulting in the YouTube series “Heikos Welt“, in which Heiko does everyday things for the little man: he eats currywurst, goes bowling, plays badminton, makes Bolognese, …
Over the years, Heiko developed into a cult figure. Hundreds of thousands of clicks and a large following later, according to the director, something bigger was needed: a feature film that would turn Heiko’s charming world with all its colourful facets into a big whole. And so Martin Rohde, who had no acting ambitions before Heiko, suddenly became a film actor who was even awarded the New German Cinema Award at the Filmfest Munich 2021 for his acting performance in “Heiko’s World“.
Heiko’s mother Belinda suffers from keratoconus, a rare condition of the cornea. She is gradually losing her sight and could soon go completely blind if she is not given treatment. Belinda’s eyesight could be restored with the cornea of a deceased donor – but such a transplant costs a lot of money, and the health insurance does not cover it.
For Heiko, this is the beginning of an odyssey through the Berlin pub world: in order to raise the money for his mother’s operation, he faces the best dart players in town, at first reluctantly, but then with growing ambition, euro by euro. They, however, pursue completely different plans and thus draw Heiko into a spiral of madness that he could not have imagined before.
„Heiko’s World“ is a wacky, loving ode to – and odyssey through – Berlin’s corner pubs with their very own fauna of original characters, full of unexpected twists and turns, and with a main character who grows on us on his beer-soaked hero’s journey.
Dominik Galizia was born in Trier in 1988. At the age of 18, he moved to Paris to work as a stunt choreographer at Disneyland in the Paris area.
Since childhood, cinema has been his greatest passion, so in 2010 he decided to move to Berlin to become a director. Music videos became his film school, here he learned everything there is to know about the creative process of filmmaking and realised his first own projects: in addition to numerous music videos, he shot several short films and prepared his feature film debut.
At the age of 26, he shot his first, completely independently financed feature film “Figaro’s Wolves” (German title: “Figaros Wölfe“), for which he acted as screenwriter, producer and director. “Figaro’s Wolves” premiered at the Fantasy Filmfest in Berlin in September 2017.
„Heiko’s World“ is his second feature film, it celebrated its acclaimed premiere at Filmfest Munich in summer 2021.
Filmography (Selection)
| 2021 | Heiko’s Welt – Fiction film |
| 2017 | Figaros Wölfe – Fiction film |
| 2014 | Mondo Strano – Short film |
| 2013 | Soulmate – Short film |
“„Heiko’s World“ is a film about beer, darts and motherly love. It was important to me to portray these three topics as authentically as possible without taking myself too seriously.
The centre of this world: Berlin cult figure Heiko in his first leading role. A comedy balancing humour and tragedy, Mama’s cosy nest and pub, sweat and tears, beer and Futschis.
The focus is on helping in times of need and the unconditional bond between mother and son. Heiko tries everything to help his beloved mother somehow, without initially having a concrete plan of how he is going to do it. But it is precisely this positive incentive, his big heart and his hard-drinking liver that are the three most important components in his adventure.”
Original title: Heikos Welt
Writer & director: Dominik Galizia
Cast: Martin Rohde, Leyla Roy, Heike Hanold-Lynch, Hans-Jürgen Alf, Franz Rogowski, Dieter Weichbrodt, Werner Böhnke, Detlef Rothermund, Shacke One, Molockk Dilemma, Gerdy Zint, Herlod Vomeer
Producer: Dominik Galizia
Executive producer: Alexander Schoeller
Cinematography: Elias C.J. Köhler
Editing: Daniel Kundrat
Sound: Nico Berthold, Andy Schlegel
Sound engineer: Ludwig Bestehorn
Head lighting: Joël Kinast
Visual Effects: Bastian Schreitling
Scene design: Philipp Droste
Makeup: Mandy Sossmann
Styling: Tanina Holz
Music (Score): Andy Schlegel
Production management: Thomas Otto
Assistant director: Sven Pfizenmaier
Production companies: Alexander Schoeller Production, Mutter & Vater Filmproduktion
Year of production: 2021
Genres: Comedy, Drama
Country: Germany
Language: German
Subtitle: English
Length: 118 Min
Rating: FSK 12
Aspect ratio: 2.4 : 1
Sound: Surround 5.1, Stereo 2.0
Resolution: digital 4K
Other title:
English: Heiko’s World
Awards:
2021 Filmfest Munich: “New German Cinema Award” as best actor -> Martin Rohde
2021 Achtung Berlin: “Prize of the most audience-attracting film” -> Heikos Welt
Film label: Darling Berlin
Distribution: UCM.ONE
Theatrical start: May 26, 2022
Martin Rohde became known to a larger audience through the YouTube series “Heikos Welt“, whose “one-man ensemble” consists of Martin alias Heiko. He first appeared as Heiko in the music video “Nettelbeckplatz” by Shacke One. The appeal that this simple, funny, very kind character, who always seems to be slightly drunk, had among fans was enormous.
This resulted in the YouTube series in which Heiko goes about the everyday things of the common man: he eats currywurst, goes bowling, plays badminton, makes bolognese, … A man of the people. Friendly, with a childlike naivety and above all one thing: authentic. Over the years, Heiko has become a cult figure with a loyal following, and he also adorns the likeness of the beer brand Nordberliner Pils. Martin Rohde is also an integral part of Nordachse, an artist collective from Berlin.
Hundreds of thousands of clicks and a large following later, there had to be something bigger, something for eternity: a film that turns Heiko’s charming world with all its colourful facets into one big whole. And so Martin Rohde became a film actor who was even awarded the New German Cinema Promotion Prize at the Munich Film Festival 2021 for his acting performance in the feature film „Heiko’s World“.
“,Heiko’s World“ is in many ways an unusual film and Martin Rohde is the ‘primus inter pares’ of a wonderful ensemble of sad and valiant losers, of bizarre individuals who fought unselfishly against cold, poverty, humiliation, and loneliness. They fought for the vestige of a dream and hope for a better life.
Heiko would do anything for his mother (played magnificently by Heike Hanold-Lynch), except that in the process he digs himself deeper and deeper into a hole, is cheated and betrayed. This is tragic and bitter, but Martin Rohde manages a fine balancing act that lends his character dignity and wit. Heiko remains calm, very calm – ‘Heiko will take care of it, Mama!’ – but whenever he says this, we know it won’t go well. He will get his revenge, though – in his own way, with outsize tennis strokes, but more importantly with exceptional technique when playing darts.
And this is how this perpetual loser, this pitiful and annoying survivor, becomes a minor winner through his great victory at darts in the pubs of Berlin. The way Martin Rohde plays it, unpretentious, precise, touching, witty, and with a convincing affinity for the world of darts, the sausage stands and corner pubs and the people who frequent them — we think it’s absolutely worth seeing.”
Leyla Roy is a French-Austrian actress, born in Paris, raised in Vienna, and fluent in German, English and French. She graduated from the Ècole du Jeu acting school in Paris and took singing lessons in jazz for a year.
Since 2016 she has been involved in several film productions in Vienna, Paris and Berlin, most recently taking on the female lead in the feature film “Heiko’s Word“.
Since 2009, Heike Hanold-Lynch has been using her versatility more frequently as an actress and has enjoyed more and more, also international, film and TV engagements in recent years. She continues to support some well-known actors in the development of their roles.
Press quotes
“‘Heiko’s World’ is an affectionate, wonderful millieu study with plenty of Berlin snark. This dart hits the heart.” (Bayerischer Rundfunk)
“A delightful experience. One is completely enveloped by this film.” (Kino Zeit)
“[Heiko] is a charismatic identification figure, and the film shows in gently overwrought social realism a world that hasn’t changed much in the last 50 years, and in which there is still a belief in the victory of good and in love.” (Indie Cinema)
“A drama with Berlin snark and a lot of heart. Wonderful!” (3sat)
“Authentic, heartwarming cinematic experience.” (rbb television)
“The performance is like a concert: the fans cheer for Heiko, cheer for his hits and boo his opponents. At the end there are “Heiko” chants and standing ovations. […] The film is a touching homage to the quirky characters at the bar and to a Wedding that should remain as it is.” (TAZ)
“‘Heiko’s World’ is an unusual film in many ways and lead actor Martin Rohde is the primus inter pares of a wonderful ensemble.” (Jury Filmfest München)
“Not a film, but an experience!” (arteschock)
“A gem in the German cinema mishmash, which is remarkably self-confidently staged with heart and soul” (Filmdienst)
“‘Heiko’s World’: from Weddinger pub unique to cult cinema star!” (tag 24)
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