This year The Shoe of Manitu continues on the big screen. More than two decades have passed since the original, which also means that the world has changed. As soon as part 2, The Manitu’s Canoe, was announced, discussions arose about the question of how relevant the humor still is today.
One character in particular has been criticized for years: WinnetouchAbahachi’s gay twin brother. In The Shoe of Manitu, both characters are played by Michael “Bully” Herbig. However, for a long time it was unclear whether Winnetouch would also appear in the sequel. We now have the answer.
First trailer confirms with a short appearance: Bully returns as Winnetouch in The Canoe of Manitu
Shortly before Christmas, Constantin Film released the first trailer for The Canoe of Manitu. In the one minute video Winnetouch actually shows up – for a split second. If you blink, you’ve missed it. Nevertheless, it is part of a dialogue: it is reflected in the quick montage of the trailer “But!” over the lips.
We don’t get to see more of Winnetouch for the time being, so the crucial question remains: How does Bully transport the controversial character into 2025, after she was one thing above all in the original: a target for homophobic jokes. The implementation is likely to be the biggest controversial topic in the sequel.
At the same time, the return offers an opportunity: Bully can redefine the character and initiate a dialogue that has not yet taken place in German cinema, at least not in the mainstream area in which The Shoe of Manitu moves. Three years ago, Peter Weissenburger made the following observation about Winnetouch in the taz:
For me, ‘Winnetouch’ is a highlight of cute representation of the 2000s. But it is of course also true that queer and indigenous characters in ‘Schuh’ are nothing more than a means to an end: simple laughs.
It goes on to say:
Today, minorities refuse to do anything like that. And we could have talked about that. Instead, Bully ended up stuck between dutiful distancing and defiant defense. Nobody learned anything from it. It was definitely humorless.
We’ll be curious to see whether and how this changes with The Manitu’s Canoe.
When does The Canoe of Manitou start in the cinema?
On August 14, 2025 the Manitu saga continues. The new film was written by Bully together with his co-stars Christian Tramitz and Rick Kavanian, who have been a well-rehearsed team since the Bully Parade. Bully also took over the direction.