Directed by Andy Bausch (Rusty Boys (2017); D'Fifties (2013); Lost in the 80s (2019); A Wopbobaloobop a Lopbamboom (1989)) and starring André Jung (My Wonderful Wanda (2020); Capitani (TV series, 2022); The Experiment (2001)), Luc Feidt (All Quiet on the Western Front (2022); The Monuments Men (2014); Skin Walker (2019)), Mayson Bossi (in his first role), Valérie Bodson (Pandore (TV series, 2022); De Buttek (2019); Rusty Boys (2017)) and Claire Johnston (Girl with a Pearl Earring (2003); Toy Gun (2018); Hannah Arendt (2012); The Runway (2021)).
Set in an Irish pub in Luxembourg-Pfaffenthal, Little Duke is a story about money troubles and friendship.
Through inter-locking sub-plots, we follow Emile "Mill" Knepper (André Jung) who calls his friend and previous working colleague Victor "Schumi" Schumacher (Luc Feidt) after their friend, a father-figure to them and the owner of the Little Duke, is taken seriously ill. Emile is retired and has to take a part-time job in security at a shop in order to keep his finances in order. He also takes care of his grandson, Jules "De Klengen" (Mayson Bossi), as the boy's mother is a drug addict and cannot look after him herself. Social services are on her tail...
Meanwhile, Victor has been in Belgium for a number of years. While he tells people he owns a chain of mobile chip stands, in reality he simply works at one. Emile calls him back to Luxembourg where the audience discovers that Victor is a womaniser, seldom has contact with his daughter, and has not got a penny to him name. He meets Florence "Flou" (Valérie Bodson) who lives in Luxembourg-Limpertsberg and who lost her husband a number of years ago.
The parish priest, Prêtre Pfarrer (Steve Karier), plays a supporting role to the ensemble and appears at the Little Duke from time to time, as do a number of regulars including Claire (Claire Johnston)... They are opposing change, particularly an unscrupulous developer which wants to purchase the land in Pfaffenthal and replace the housing with offices, something the locals do not want. But if the inheritance works out and if the Little Duke - way past its heyday - were to be sold, all their money troubles would be solved... Right in the middle of all this is social services looing out for Jules, but can retired Emile look after him? Father-daughter relationships also feature, with Emile trying to protect his, while Victor must try to re-establish contact with his, now that he is back in Luxembourg.
Arguably Andy Bausch's best film in a long time, superseeding his fascinating documentaries looking back at life in Luxembourg in the 1950s and 80s. Right from the off, the cinematography captures Luxembourg City, particularly Pfaffenthal, in all its glory. The characters are developed without changing them, the audience discovers more about their back-stories as the film progresses. The dynamics between an optimist and a realist are fascinating to watch as the film unfolds and Andy Bausch bring the audience on storytelling adventure. Every Irish pub has its characters, and Little Duke is no different, including watching reruns of Ireland's football team playing against England in the European Championships. And then there are the Easter eggs too - watch out for the names of the whiskey brands...
Well worth a look - currently being screened throughout the Grand Duchy.
