German

[zazieb]

I was born in Germany in 1990. My parents weren't military, and they weren't on vacation when my mom suddenly went into labor. No, my dad is bona fide German and he somehow sweet talked my mom into moving from New York to Germany with him to have me! We moved from Berlin to NYC when I was young, but we vacationed back home frequently. It was a

Comments

[chris_hemsworth]

I can only imagine how odd it would feel being in Germany at that time with your mum. I can imagine Taika can relate a bit spending time there in his twenties. I don't know how anyone manages two languages so fluently. I can barely manage a little bit of Maori to make my husband swoon.

[zazieb]

You know all those juicy Maori words, don't you. It's hard to learn when you're not a kid! Do your kids speak it?

My mom & I liked it there, but it could be maddening at times the way people would act around us! It was probably more shocking for her not being brought up there.

[chris_hemsworth]

Just saying I love you makes him swoon but I've added some more to my list. It is so hard to learn! They do. They've had a tutor teaching them for years, my kids since we got together. Since I'm mostly clueless it's like their own secret language dad can't speak. lol

[zazieb]

Awwww, so sweet! I'm not sure I could pick Maori out of a crowd. I just looked up how to say hello, so I'll test it out on you & the fam whenever we bump into each other!

[cmsprouse]

I'm sort of in the same boat. My twin brother and I were born in Arezzo, Italy, which is where my parents lived when we were born. They were English teachers over there, and we came while they were there.

[zazieb]

I have so many questions!
Did you learn the language?
When did you move away?
Do you go back to visit?
Was your name almost Colmazio?

[cmsprouse]

I learned Italian, but I learned it much later in life. We moved back to California when Dylan and I were a year old, so I don't remember much about our time there.

[zazieb]

It would have been a beautiful place to grow up if nothing else. California's ok too!

[taika_waititi]

I lived in Berlin for a few years in my 20s. It's an incredible place. I can definitely relate to feeling different, even in my own country, and going to school and being made fun of. I'm proud that I can still understand most of what you're saying in that interview.

[zazieb]

What were you doing living in Berlin? That is incredible you still understand the language! We should discuss over käsekuchen. 😉

Aw Taika, that's terrible you didn't always feel at home in your own country. I'm thankful America is so diverse. Still got them haters, but personally I feel like I fit in much more here.

[taika_waititi]

Well, I originally wanted to be a painter. I studied art and I moved from New Zealand to Germany to try my hand at that there. Didn't really work out that well. OH MY GOD PUT ALL THE KÄSEKUCHEN IN MY MOUTH. 🤤

There is a lot of racism, especially against Māori people. I was also picked on for being Jewish, but it was the Māori part kids gave me a hard time about.

[zazieb]

Do you paint now? Can you describe your style? I love painting but need about 10 years more practice to be able to create something I'm not too critical of!
WE NEED MORE KÄSEKUCHEN!!!

That's so sad. Racism is something I'll never understand. But I love you for you Taika!

[armasdeana]

I had no idea you were German! I need to hear you speaking in person sometime. I love being bilingual and hearing your relaxed answers in German in the video is beautiful. I hate that the only time most people hear German in Hollywood films is rough Nazi shouting when it's just as beautiful as any other language when spoken with warmth.

[zazieb]

It surprises a lot of people! I'd love to get together and speak German. I'll teach you some basics so next time you're in a German speaking country, you can stun & amaze! It usually is the Nazis speaking German in Hollywood movies. Probably the only way to speak German in a movie that's not about war or villains would be to make a movie IN Germany!

[timolet]

Is fasnacht a real thing?! It seems like such a wild event.
Also, do you ever catch yourself thinking in German, or speaking it out loud to yourself?

Ok, one more question: Now that Covid restrictions are easing, do you have plans to go to Germany soon? I'll be in Europe in June... I can make a special trip to Germany or France so our grandparents can meet! ;)

[zazieb]

It's a real thing! It happens before Lent. I've been to the real deal & it can get wild! I don't speak it to myself out loud, but my mind can wander just far enough that I don't realize I'm thinking in German until I snap out of my trance or whatever the hell is going on. I dream in German too!

I don't have plans but I can make them! I'll have to really check with my grandparents to see if they like meeting new people. They might be at that age where new friends don't excite them anymore.

[timolet]

Wow, haha. You guys know how to have a good time.
Do you ever think/dream in French too? If I haven't spoken French in a while it kind of leaves my mind, but if I've been using it lately, it'll kind of intermix with English in my thoughts and dreams. Makes perfect sense to me, but must be confusing for mind-readers.

Ah, set in their ways, are they? No hard feelings if they don't want visitors. I can still meet them, right? We don't have to become friends.

[zazieb]

French not so much. I write in it, but I'm not exposed to it enough. If I watch 2 movies before bed a couple words might get thrown into a dream. Intermixed & confusing for mind readers, like you said.

They would love to meet you!