Roller Coaster (2008)
A German short film about a boy's scheme to sabotage his first post-divorce weekend with his father — and the unexpected turn that follows.
Roller Coaster - Movie Information
- Original Title: Höllenritt
- Release Year: 2008
- Directed by: Martin Busker
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Drama, Comedy
- Runtime: 30m
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: German
- Release Date (Theatrical): October 2, 2008 (Germany)
- Alternative Titles: Roller Coaster (US)
- Production Companies: Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg
- Production Countries: Germany
Roller Coaster - Plot
A boys first weekend with the father after the divorce of his parents. Together with his friends, he makes a plan to turn that weekend into a horror trip, to punish his father. But then everything changes
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Roller Coaster - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Martin Busker
Main Cast
- Aaron Altaras
- Jockel Tschiersch
- Julia Koschitz
Writers
- Matthias Schmidt
Roller Coaster - FAQs
What is Roller Coaster (2008) about?
Roller Coaster follows a young boy navigating his first weekend with his father after his parents' divorce. He teams up with friends to sabotage the visit and make it as miserable as possible — but as the weekend unfolds, something unexpected shifts the whole dynamic.
Who are the main actors in Roller Coaster?
The film stars Aaron Altaras as Jakob, the boy at the center of the story, alongside Jockel Tschiersch as H.W., his father, and Julia Koschitz as Karin. It's a compact, character-driven cast that gives the short film an intimate, emotionally grounded feel.
Is Roller Coaster a short film?
Yes, Roller Coaster is a short film with a runtime of just 30 minutes. It was produced by the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg in Germany and released in October 2008. Despite its brief length, it packs a meaningful emotional punch around family, divorce, and forgiveness.
Who directed Roller Coaster (2008)?
Roller Coaster was directed by Martin Busker. The film was a production of the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg, one of Germany's leading film schools, suggesting Busker crafted this as part of his formal training in filmmaking.
Does Jakob's plan to punish his father succeed?
That's the heart of the film's tension. Jakob and his friends set out with a clear mission to make the weekend unbearable for his father, but the story takes a turn when reality — and perhaps empathy — gets in the way. The shift is what gives the film its emotional resonance.
What genre is Roller Coaster (2008)?
Roller Coaster blends Drama and Comedy. The premise has a playful, mischievous edge as a boy and his friends scheme against his dad, but the emotional undercurrent is very much dramatic, exploring the confusion and hurt that children carry through family breakdown.
When was Roller Coaster released?
Roller Coaster had its release in Germany on October 2, 2008. It was produced by the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg and is also known under its original German title Höllenritt, as well as its US alternative title Roller Coaster.
What are similar movies to Roller Coaster?
If Roller Coaster resonated with you, you might enjoy Fatherhood (2021), Waiting for Bojangles (2021), or The Invisible Thread (2022) — all films exploring complex family bonds. Cemetery Junction (2010) and Let Liv (2023) also share that mix of coming-of-age emotion and bittersweet humor.
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