Oskar Matzerath: There once was a drummer. His name was Oskar. He lost his poor mama, who had eat to much fish. There was once a credulous people… who believed in Santa Claus. But Santa Claus was really… the gas man! There was once a toy merchant. His name was Sigismund Markus… and he sold tin drums lacquered red and white. There was once a drummer. His name was Oskar. There was once a toy merchant… whose name was Markus… and he took all the toys in the world away with him.

Blecktrumman är en film som utforskar Oskars vägran att växa upp efter att ha fått en tenntrumma som 3-åring i staden Gdansk. Skådespelare som David Bennent, Angela Winkler och Mario Adorf bidrar till att skapa en gripande berättelse om att vägra anpassa sig till omvärlden.