Home / Arts and Entertainment / Wordless Wanderers: Two Lonely Souls Find Connection on Unexpected Journey Across Germany
Wordless Wanderers: Two Lonely Souls Find Connection on Unexpected Journey Across Germany
13 Nov
Summary
- A young German man with Down syndrome and a Japanese tourist form an unexpected bond on a journey through Germany
- The film explores themes of loneliness, communication, and self-discovery
- Director Thomas Stuber was drawn to the script's slow pace and focus on details
In November 2025, the film "The Frog and the Water" (Der Frosch und das Wasser) is set to world premiere at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival. Directed by Thomas Stuber, the film follows a young German man with Down syndrome, Buschi, who chooses not to speak, and a Japanese tourist, Hideo, as they cross paths in Germany and go on a journey together.
Buschi's routine at an assisted living facility leaves no room for surprises, but he seizes the chance to join a tour of Japanese tourists traveling through Germany. On this unusual trip, Buschi forms a wordless friendship with Hideo, a man on a journey of his own. The two lonely souls connect in a way that goes beyond words, exploring themes of communication, self-discovery, and the power of unexpected bonds.
Stuber, who co-wrote the script with Gotthart Kuppel and Hyoe Yamamoto, was drawn to the story's slow pace and focus on details, wanting the cinematic experience to "stay with and within you." The casting process was intensive, with Stuber searching across Europe to find the right actor to play the non-speaking Buschi, ultimately casting Aladdin Detlefsen. Kanji Tsuda, a well-known Japanese actor, portrays Hideo.
