Hanno Olderdissen was born in 1976 in Bielefeld, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. He is known for his work on Robin (2008), Rock My Heart (2017) and What to Do in Case of Fire (2001) as well for the family film Wendy 2 - Freundschaft für immer (2018) and the series Der Bulle und das Biest (2019).

How did you approach the idea of bringing Lassie again into the big screen?
I wanted to create a film that was modern and interesting for the children but also has a classic nostalgic touch to honor the original Lassie Films and Series that we, as parents and grandparents know from our own childhood.

When did you first read the book by Eric Knight? How does this movie differ from the book?
I read the novel once, when I started working on the project together with the Producer Henning Ferber and Screenwriter Jane Ainscough. The Novel has a very epic story that goes over many months and has many chapters. The Story of the movie concentrates more on Lassie and her owner Flo and how they overcome adventures and obstacles to find back to each other.

Working on the two episodes of Der Bulle und das Biest helped you in directing this new Lassie movie?
It was a good “practice” for me to shot a TV Series with an bullmastiff. There I already got to know our excellent dog trainer Renate Hiltl and her crew. It surely helped and prepared me for directing Lassie.

After Rock My Heart and Wendy 2 - Freundschaft für immer where the “stars” were horses, now you bring this iconic dog back on the big screen. It seems that you are an animal lover, like me. Do you have a pet?
Unfortunately, I live in the City and have a Job, that involves a lot of travelling, so my lifestyle is not suitable for a pet. But when I was a little boy I lived in the countryside and my father trained racehorses, that I used to ride, when I was a child. Later I was very keen on showjumping.  And we had a little Jack Russel Terrier. So, yes: I am an animal lover.

Do you have something to transmit to the audience from Romania and Hungary, the two countries where Prorom will release the movie? What should the audience expect when they go see this movie?
I think the audience can look forward to a modern film with a nostalgic feel and lots of fun, adventure, drama and two very sweet and beautiful dogs.

Interview by Emanuel Lăzărescu.
Foto ©Denis Behnke.

Twelve-year-old Florian and his beloved collie Lassie are inseparable and best friends. When Florian's father loses his job, the family has to move into a smaller flat - no dogs allowed.

Florian is devastated and has to give Lassie away. Lassie is placed in the hands of Count von Sprengel, who travels to the North Sea with her and his exuberant granddaughter Priscilla (12).

When the count's mean caretaker starts treating Lassie badly, she takes the opportunity to escape and begins an adventurous journey across Germany, always in search of Flo.

But Lassie is not the only one who has set off on a journey. Flo also can't stand it any longer and starts looking for his dog. The two can't be beaten that easy!   

Flo's best friend is his Collie Lassie. When his family is forced to give the dog away, Flo is heartbroken. But Lassie isn’t easily separated from Flo and embarks on an adventurous journey across Germany, a journey back to her beloved friend Flo.

The heartwarming story of this indestructible friendship will resonate not only with pet lovers, but also with those who have not forgotten to be children.

Prorom will release Lassie Come Home in Romanian and Hungarian cinemas starting March 13th.

The heartwarming story of the inseparable friendship between a boy and his Collie dog is based on the wellknown original novel by Eric Knight.

Flo's best friend is his Collie Lassie. When his family is forced to give the dog away, Flo (Nico Marischka) is heartbroken. But Lassie isn’t easily separated from Flo and embarks on an adventurous journey across Germany, a journey back to her beloved friend Flo.

Lassie Come Home is directed by Hanno Olderdissen and stars Nico Marischka, Sebastian Bezzel, Anna Maria Mühe and Bella Bading.

The family entertainment adventure is produced by Henning Ferber through his LCH Film UG in co-production with Warner Bros. Film Productions Germany, Suedstern Film, and Traumfabrik Babelsberg. Warner Bros. will release the film theatrically in Germany.

Prorom will release the movie in 2020 in: Romania (on March 13), Hungary (March 12), Czech Republic and Slovakia (September 10), Moldova and Bulgaria.