Things weren?t going well for young Jan. His father doesn?t respect him, the family are moving away from his friends and he is head of the world?s lamest gang.

That fact is proved when they take on the other gang in their German village and he is beaten up by the rival leader ? a girl.

Both sets of kids are intent on getting on the trail of the treasure of the White Falcons ? a notorious kid?s group from yesteryear who actually managed to flood the village in sewage, rightly earning them hero status among naughty kids for generations to come before its leader mysteriously disappeared.

With the clock ticking on his time in the pretty Bavarian hamlet Jan realises this is last bid for glory so he takes his tame crew on the road with his nemesis Marie and her tomboy worshipping cohorts in hot pursuit.

Their lengthy trek through the scenic countryside has something of a quaint, old-fashioned feel about it given that most 21st century kids need an air-conditioned automobile to move more than a hundred yards.

There are timeless scenes of them splashing in the river and trying to start fires.

Armed with a secret map they zero in on their target but the inevitable showdown with Marie?s mob is never far from their thoughts. The film meanders to a satisfying climax and deals maturely with some series themes including death, maturity and romance along the way.

Apart from the improbable cross-country trek, it scores well on authenticity. While the kids are likeable, even better they are believable. Even Jan?s gang of nerds shoplift and exhibit a cynical sense of humour that you?d never see on some of the typically schmaltzy American offerings that crowd our TV screens. The biting banter sees Jan?s diabetic cohort teased for being a heroin addict as he routinely stuffs a needle full of insulin in his arm.

And there is that other rare commodity in children?s films ? humour that is subtle. You can see why it has won countless awards in Europe including audience awards at the Vienna Children?s Film Festival and Hamburg Film Festival and certificate of excellence from the Chicago International Children?s Film Festival.

Mind, I had to say that. That Marie threatened to beat me up.