Weekend Rebels: A father fights for his autistic son!

Weekend Rebels: A father fights for his autistic son!

“Wochenendrebellen”, the moving film about the relationship between a father and his autistic son, celebrated great box office success in 2023 with almost a million cinemagoers, which corresponds to the number of spectators in the 18 largest football stadiums in Germany. The film is oriented towards emotional and realistic stories and is based on a true story that began over a decade ago with an award-winning blog that won the Grimme Online Award. The success story was later published in the form of a book before finally hitting the big screen.

Father Mirco is played by Florian David Fitz in the main role, while his autistic son Jason is played by Cecilio Andresen. The story revolves around Mirco's absence from work and the challenges that family life brings. His wife Fatime, played by Aylin Tezel, runs the household and takes care of everyday matters while at the same time trying to support Jason in his world.

The challenges of everyday life

The diagnosis of Asperger's autism changes the family's life significantly. Jason's everyday life is characterized by strict routines and rules, which causes him difficulties at school. The teacher is overwhelmed and thinks about sending Jason to a special school. Mirco, who often travels on business, feels overwhelmed and misunderstood by the challenges, which leads to conflicts between him and Fatime. The relationship between the two is on the verge of breaking down.

Although tensions rise, Jason has one clear desire: he wants to find his favorite football club and plans to visit all 56 teams in the first, second and third divisions at their home stadiums before making a decision. To fulfill this wish, Mirco organizes weekend trips to the various stadiums, which not only presents a logistical challenge but also has to take Jason's special needs into account.

Shared experiences and the importance of solidarity

The trips challenge the family emotionally and physically, but at the same time strengthen the bond between father and son. Jason learns that he must overcome his challenges to enjoy what he loves. A planned trip to Riga pushes the family to their limits: Mirco's professional situation is precarious, and the relationship with Fatime is in danger of breaking down. In this critical phase, the family realizes that they are only strong together and can overcome any hurdle if they stick together.

“Weekend Rebels” was released in theaters on September 28, 2023 and will be available on Amazon Prime Video from May 26, 2025. The production was directed by Justyna Muesch, Quirin Berg and Max Wiedemann, while the script was written by Richard Kropf. The story of Mirco and Jason von Juterczenka touches viewers and offers a powerful insight into the challenges and joys of family life with a special child.

After its huge success in cinemas and its upcoming streaming release, the film is expected to continue to move and inspire many people. Further information about the history and background information can be found on the website Blog “Weekend Rebel” to find who won the Grimme Online Award.