The Olchis have received their own film, which will hit theaters on July 22nd. For the green creatures, created by author Erhard Dietl (68), the movie "Die Olchis - Willkommen in Schmuddelfing" is about to embark on a new adventure. The Olchi family ends up in a garbage dump, a perfect new home for the extended family that lives on garbage. Were it not for the plan to build a wellness center at this very spot. Max and his girlfriend Lotta are committed to ensuring that the Olchis can stay - because they would also rid the city of the constant stench and the garbage problem.
The voices of Olchi-Mama and Olchi-Papa may sound familiar to some: Annemarie (43) and Wayne Carpendale (44) speak the green beings. Above all, the message behind the film convinced them, the two said in an interview with the news agency spot on news: "The Olchis are different and that's a good thing. They're green, eat garbage, love the mess. But that's still the case no reason to have prejudices against them." In the conversation, the moderators revealed whether things are as wild as the burping and farting Olchis, how they bring sustainability closer to their three-year-old son Mads and why they don't want to limit themselves as parents.
Why are the Olchis so popular with children?
Wayne Carpendale: I think because the Olchis live like children would live if there were no adults. We tell the kids all the time, don't do this, don't do that and that's how you have to do it. We make nonsensical rules that you have to follow, and belching and farting loudly is not okay. The Olchis don't care about any of this. You live completely free. They do what they feel like doing at any moment. Even their children let Olchi mum and dad do what they want and don't tell them anything. And of course children find that really cool.
Burps and farts are typical of the Olchis. As a family, how do you deal with common etiquette?
Annemarie Carpendale: Well, Wayne and I don't burp and fart in front of each other (laughs). It's different with Mads, of course... It's part of being a kid and of course he really enjoys it when he makes a funny sound - for example when he drinks sparkling water and then has to burp. Then we laugh about it together. But of course there will come a time when we have to make it clear to him that it's not as fun in a restaurant or in public as it is at home. But still has a little time.
Wayne Carpendale: If Annemarie isn't there, things can look very different. Then Mads and I do everything. Sometimes we battle who can burp louder or we burp the ABC.
The Olchis also like to swear. How do you handle this in raising your son?
Annemarie Carpendale: We don't really limit ourselves too much. Wayne and I have said from the beginning that we want to remain WE as parents and not pretend to the little one or turn our lives upside down. That actually works quite well. And if a swear word slips out, then so be it. With certain words, of course, you make sure that they don't constantly come off your lips in front of him. So far this works quite well. Mads has never used the sh*** word, although he babbles like a book and pretty much picks it all up. We're actually quite proud of that (laughs).
Nowadays, some kids spend a lot of time with their smartphones or in front of the TV. How much is allowed in the Carpendale home and how do you decide what your son can and can't see?
Annemarie Carpendale: Up until now, we've had relatively few films. "Die Olchis" was one of the first films that we all watched together at a "bed party". We make sure that we spend as little time in front of the television as possible. Of course, the best way to do this is to offer enough alternatives. Mads really enjoys "reading" with us.... especially fire department books. Sometimes a few get together in the evening until Mama and Dada are released (laughs).
Wayne Carpendale: We're still doing it a bit like the Olchis. Children have a very good sense of what is good for them. It's always the adults who make it complicated (laughs).
When it comes to sustainability, the Olchis are role models for you. To what extent do you as a family pay attention to sustainability?
Annemarie Carpendale: Well, we're not super-eco, but we do attach great importance to sustainability. Above all, waste separation is very important to us. And Mads really pays attention to what goes in which of our many bins... It's great to see that it can be really fun. And as a family, we sometimes collect rubbish that lies on the street together and throw it in the nearest rubbish bin. All in all, we make sure that his awareness of certain things is sharpened. He also knows very well that we now have a new car that also runs on electricity, so it can charge up with electricity and that it's better for the environment.
Wayne Carpendale: I think the film conveys that very well. Many children - especially city children - have probably never seen a landfill. But the film shows that the rubbish we produce doesn't just disappear, it just piles up somewhere. And that even more is piling up there than it already is if we just pointlessly consume, consume, consume and waste our resources.
Would you like to work more often on joint projects?
Annemarie Carpendale: We like to work together, but only if it adds value to doing it together as a couple, never obsessively. It always depends on the project. For us, "Die Olchis" was a family project that suited us perfectly.
