DEFA - Stiftung

Märchen

In einer Stadt im Orient lebt ein kleiner buckliger alter Mann. Von den Kindern gehänselt und gejagt, zieht er sie eines Tages mit einer Geschichte in seinen Bann - seiner Geschichte: Ein kleiner Junge, Muck genannt, wird nach dem Tode des Vaters von den bösen Verwandten aus dem Haus gejagt. Er zieht in die Wüste, um sein Glück zu suchen, und kommt zu einer wundersamen Alten. Hier gelangt er in den Besitz von rasenden Zauberpantoffeln und einem Stab, der vergrabene Schätze aufspürt. Muck glaubt, das Glück gefunden zu haben, und begibt sich in die nächste Stadt, um am Hofe des Sultans eine Stelle als Schnelläufer anzunehmen. Doch Mucks Karriere erregt den Neid der Höflinge, die ihn in ein Intrigenspiel verwickeln und aus dem Palast jagen. Unterwegs entdeckt er das Geheimnis zweier ungewöhnlicher Feigenbäume, das ihn in die Lage versetzt, den Höflingen eine Lehre zu erteilen, indem er ihnen Eselsohren an den Kopf zaubert. Er fordert seine gestohlenen Pantoffeln und das Stöckchen zurück und wandert wieder in die Wüste hinaus. Nicht Reichtum bedeutet Glück, sondern Freundschaft und Hilfsbereitschaft.
(Quelle: Das zweite Leben der Filmstadt Babelsberg. DEFA-Spielfilme 1946-1992)

In a small Oriental town, a short, hunchbacked old man lives, teased, taunted and chased by the local children. One day, he manages to hold them spellbound with a story - his own story:
A little boy called Muck is banished from his home by evil relatives following the death of his father: In search of happiness and fortune, he goes off to live in the desert where he meets a wondrous old woman. He becomes owner of magic racing slippers and a wand with which to hunt up hidden treasures. Convinced that he has found his fortune, Muck sets out for the Sultan's court to find employment as a high-speed runner: With the help of his magic wand, he is soon promoted to the post of chief bursar: But Muck's career evokes much envy among the courtiers who involve him in intrigues and have him expelled from the palace. On his subsequent travels, he discovers the mystery of two exceptional fig trees. He is now capable of teaching the courtiers a lesson or two. For example, with a bit of magic, he has their heads fitted with donkey's ears. He demands his stolen slippers and wand back and helps Prince Hassan to find his beloved Amarza, the Sultan's daughter: In the end, Muck wanders off into the desert again. Not wealth but friendship and consideration lead to happiness. (Source: Progress Film-Verleih)

Un uomo basso e gobbo, sempre beffeggiato e rincorso dai bambini, racconta loro della sua storia: Dopo la morte di suo padre, il giovane Muck viene cacciato di casa dai perfidi parenti. Attraversando il deserto in cerca di fortuna, incontra un vecchio che gli dona delle velocissime scarpe magiche e un bastone, capace di scovare tesori. Giunto alla corte del sultano per farsi assumere come velocista, Muck resterà coinvolto in un intrigo ordito dai cortigiani gelosi. Costretto a rimettersi in cammino, incontrerà due insoliti alberi di fico, che gli permetteranno di vendicarsi, affibbiando ai cortigiani delle orecchie da somaro. Tornato in possesso delle sue pantofole e del bastone, riprenderà a camminare nel deserto. Non è la ricchezza, bensì l'amicizia e la disponibilità che rendono l'uomo felice. (Italienisch)