Just Film Works in Progress
The Little Reaper
Samuel (11) never leaves the house – the world's a terrifying place out there! Then one afternoon, the Grim Reaper shows up at his door… well, a small one, still in training. Together, they're about to discover what it really means to be alive.
Samuel (11) never leaves home – the world's too dangerous. Then – to his dismay – Frida (9), a little Grim Reaper-in-training, appears and insists he teach her about life. Reluctantly, Samuel steps outside, discovering friendship, courage, and the thrill of being alive for the first time. But when fate puts their bond to the test, they both learn that even Death can't stop a true friendship from changing everything.
Main country of production
Germany
Director's note
When I read Anne Gröger's "The Little Reaper," I was deeply moved by its honesty and humour. The story confronts fear and mortality without trying to erase them – instead, it celebrates life because of them. Samuel, terrified of the world, meets Frida, a curious and rebellious little Grim Reaper. Together, they embody fear and vitality – two forces within us all. Especially after the pandemic, many children have grown up surrounded by anxiety; this film reminds us that fear is learned, not destiny. Life is risky, messy, and beautiful – and only by embracing it can we truly live.
Producer's note
"The Little Reaper" is a heartfelt and humorous family film about fear, friendship, and embracing life. When cautious Samuel meets Frida – a lively little Grim Reaper in training – his safe, isolated world is turned upside down. Through her curiosity and chaos, he learns that life's beauty lies in its risks, and that only by facing fear can we truly live.
Written by Anne Gröger and directed by Katja Benrath ("Rocca Changes the World," German Film Award 2019), the film combines humour, emotion, and adventure to explore big questions with lightness and heart. Like Pixar's "Coco," it encourages families to talk openly about death – not to fear it, but to celebrate life.
Subjects:
friendship, death
Katja Benrath was born in 1979 in Erbach, Germany, and grew up in Stockstadt am Main and Lübeck. After training as a theatrical tailor at the Wuppertal Bühnen and studying acting and singing at the Vienna Conservatory, she moved behind the camera in 2009. Her short films “Puppenspiel” and “No One Pukes in Heaven” won multiple international awards. Her graduation film “Watu Wote” (2016) became an international success, earning the Peace Prize of German Film, a Gold Student Academy Award, and an Academy Award nomination. In 2018, she directed her debut feature “Rocca Changes the World,” which premiered in German cinemas in 2019.
Dr Christoph Menardi is a German-Austrian film producer, line producer, and professor with over two decades of experience in inter- national film and television. Born in Linz, Austria, in 1974, he studied International Economics and Law at the University of Innsbruck and Production and Media Business at the University of Television and Film Munich (HFF), later training at UCLA. He co-founded NEOS Film GmbH in 2000, producing shorts, commercials, and features including the German-French co-production “French for Beginners.” His recent credits include “Der Vierer,” “Polizeiruf 110: Funkensom- mer,” “Der Bremerhaven-Krimi,” “Farm Rebellio,” and “Win-Win.” Menardi is Professor of Production Management for Film and TV at Hochschule Ansbach. His doctoral dissertation on the history of Bavaria Film (1945–1994) was published in 2022 and nominated for the Willi Haas Prize.