Momo
A free-spirited girl challenges mysterious grey men who turn her leisurely village into a frantic economy of stolen time.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- whimsical
- gentle
- thoughtful
- family movie night
- reflective afternoon
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The grey men persuade villagers to deposit their time, turning communal life into stressful labor and measurable accumulation.
Momo remains free from the grey men's stress-driven system and acts to restore friendship and social connection.
The grey men function as literalized agents of stolen time, greed, and social alienation.
The village's unnaturally slow pace and the grey men's time economy transform ordinary time management into a strange, symbolic world.
Films like Momo, and why
The NeverEnding Story
shared modern fairy-tale fantasy, child protagonist, and critique of adult materialism
Labyrinth
shared family fantasy, surreal symbolism, and a child confronting forces that distort ordinary life
The Dark Crystal
shared allegorical fantasy, whimsical atmosphere, and themes of resisting greed and social conformity
The Little Prince
shared gentle family storytelling, imaginative world-building, and emphasis on friendship over productivity
Movie Details
- Director
- Johannes Schaaf
- Release Date
- 1986-07-16
- Runtime
- 101 min
- Rating
- 7.0 / 10 (79)
Cast
- Radost Bokel
- Mario Adorf
- Armin Mueller-Stahl
- Leopoldo Trieste
- Ninetto Davoli
- Bruno Stori
- Elide Melli
- Francesco De Rosa
- John Huston
- Sylvester Groth
Common questions
- What is Momo about?
- A free-spirited girl challenges mysterious grey men who turn her leisurely village into a frantic economy of stolen time.
- What is Momo like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Momo as measured, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Momo violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Momo.
- Which films are like Momo?
- Films with a similar feel include The NeverEnding Story, Labyrinth, The Dark Crystal, and The Little Prince.
- How long is Momo?
- Momo runs 101 minutes.
