With a theatrical release on August 25, 2022, Germany’s most famous marsupial returns to the cinema in the sequel The Kangaroo Conspiracy. In it, small artists Marc-Uwe Kling and his kangaroo roommate try after a bet to convert a climate crisis denier and conspiracy theorist and suddenly find themselves on a road trip across Germany.
The Kangaroo Conspiracy: The Interview with Marc-Uwe Kling and Dimitrij Schaad
We met kangaroo creator, director and marsupial speaker Marc-Uwe Kling together with his leading actor Dimitrij Schaad for an interview to ask them about laughter, film preferences and of course the kangaroo.
Watch the trailer for Marc-Uwe Kling’s The Kangaroo Conspiracy here
The Kangaroo Conspiracy – Trailer (German) HD
Marc-Uwe, you wrote the screenplay for the first kangaroo film and now you’re even directing part 2. What was that experience like? would you do it again
Marc-Uwe Kling: I think it is one of the hardest things in the worldthat you still want to do. Of course, there are still more strenuous things to do, but I think you don’t want to do that anymore. Nevertheless, it was a lot of fun, otherwise I would have thrown it up at some point and said: Screw it, Dimi you do that! Still, I would be surprised if I didn’t shoot another film sometime.
Dimitrij Schaad: Actually, a director only has to be able to do two things: keep calm and make decisions. Then nothing. For example, he doesn’t set up the lights himself, doesn’t have to put on anyone’s make-up and doesn’t have to draw up any shooting schedules. But there’s never enough time and never enough money, and there’s always, always some problem. That’s why “decide” means in the film the lesser of several great evils to choose without knowing exactly what the consequences are. And you’re good at that, Marc.
Marc-Uwe Kling:
This had the interesting effect on me that I had made so many decisions on set that I was “out of decisions” at the end of the day. When I came home and was asked ‘do we eat pasta or pizza?’ I couldn’t decide anymore. Someone else had to do that for me.
© X Films Creative Pool, X Distribution / Stefan Erhard
Marc-Uwe Kling with Dimitrij Schaad (and kangaroo) on the set
What was the biggest challenge during the shoot?
Marc-Uwe Kling:
We had a totally screwed script! I don’t know who wrote that! No, seriously: The hardest thing was that there were so many motifs. We had too few shooting days for too many locations. So quite often we had to shoot two locations in one day.
Dimitrij Schaad: And not even pleasant locations: one day we had a moving bus and a platform on the plan. Both places that are exhausting, cold and unsatisfying to play on.
Marc-Uwe Kling:
Dimi recently told me about this Director’s Guild podcast, where two directors always talk to each other. And they keep saying, ‘I always try to shoot everything on real sets!’ Honestly? I would like to all shoot in the studio. Don’t feel like confronting the Federal Police or Deutsche Bahn.
So the police came too?
Marc-Uwe Kling:
The federal police didn’t allow us to shoot in the security area at the airport. On the candling machines. On the grounds that animals like that [auf dem Band] not be processed. Well, humor…
Sometimes the kangaroo situations are so absurd that the question arises: is it all just made up or is it anchored in experiences that you have made yourself?
Marc-Uwe Kling:
Half-half, I would say. Usually one has experienced something and exaggerates it. – Only with conspiracy theories is it the other way around: you notice something and then you have to underdrive, because otherwise it seemed exaggerated.
© X Rental
The kangaroo conspiracy – only real with an aluminum hat
Have you personally ever had arguments with lateral thinkers?
Dimitrij Schaad:
Not yet, but that will probably come our way now.
Marc-Uwe Kling:
I just got here on the S-Bahn. There was a woman without a mask and an elderly gentleman with a mask discussing the purpose of the masks. At some point the woman said: “You must believe everything you are told!”
I found that a very interesting sentence. Because questioning something is not wrong, but her Has anyone told you something she simply believes? That’s the interesting thing about the whole conspiracy phenomenon: There is doubt about the established, but the doubt itself is not doubted. And this is the problem.
A few months ago I read a news article: “Putin trains combat dolphins”. I thought, ‘Hmm. Might be. But I’m skeptical about that.’ In this respect, one can also meet the Tagesschau with skepticism. But then believing everything that Russia Today says unfiltered doesn’t add up for me.
The climate crisis, corona and conspiracy theories are serious topics that are treated with humor in The Kangaroo Conspiracy. Do you think you can laugh about anything or even deal with some things just by laughing at them?
Marc-Uwe Kling:
I think you can get over nearly all laugh. It’s more about how come you laugh about it. What is the trend of the joke? For example: Can you laugh at Putin? Naturally! The man is ridiculous! There’s also something liberating about laughing at him, because Laughter takes power. By laughing you lose your fear and fear is contrary to a self-determined life. In this respect, humor can absolutely help to break free.
Dimitrij Schaad:
Amen.
© X Rental
The Kangaroo Conspiracy: The Kangaroo in Blockbuster Mode
Also, laughter attracts a lot of people to the movies, like Marvel with his joke-laced superhero successes. Do you watch such blockbusters?
Dimitrij Schaad:
I love blockbusters! Probably because I’m so influenced by 90s movies, where there were extremely cool blockbusters. Fabrics that were original fabrics and that captivated millions upon millions of people. What’s better than having a shared experience and then being able to talk about it afterwards? I don’t even know when the word became an insult.
The problem is more the crowding out of $30-$50 million movies. So the destruction of the niche for artistically high-quality and well-financed art house films that, relative to their cost, would have as good or even better potential than the big $200 million productions, but are being crushed to death. But that is another matter and has nothing to do with the films themselves. Top Gun: Maverick, for example, is sensational.
Marc-Uwe Kling:
I’ve been looking for so long for someone who can tell me firsthand if the movie is really worth it! Everything I’ve read about it is a mystery to me. I still can’t imagine that this movie is any good. I prefer the funny blockbusters. Guardians of the Galaxy, Thor 3 – I can do a lot with that.
I don’t like all that superhero stuff when it takes itself too seriously. The Dark Knight was also great, although it’s not a comedy. The new Batman was OK, but it’s not something I want to see again right away. But I watched Guardians and thought if I were a kid this would have been my Star Wars.
© Ullstein / Sven Hagolani
Qualityland by Marc-Uwe Kling
In addition to the kangaroo, there is also the Marc-Uwe-Kling book Qualityland *. This sci-fi story was sold to HBO as a series a while ago. Is there any news?
Marc-Uwe Kling:
The film adaptation of Qualityland* is coming, but will change channels. There were “creative differences”. We’ve even started writing. But I can’t tell you much more than that.
Then just purely speculative: If you had a free hand for a national or international dream cast for the sci-fi comedy Qualityland: Who would be there?
Marc-Uwe Kling:
I’ve definitely thought about letting Dimitrij play Peter Unemployed [also, die Hauptfigur des Romans]. Back when it was up to the Americans, they had Henry Cavill proposed as [den Androiden-Präsidentschaftskandidaten] John of Us. I found that very funny. But other than that, I have to admit: we’re still a long way from that.
*The links to the Amazon offer are so-called affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, we will receive a commission.