Rating: 5.0/5.0
Rudolf Hess (Christian Friedel) is the commandant of the concentration camp at Auschwitz. He lives in a luxurious house right next door, complete with servants and all the stuff stolen from the prisoners, with his wife Hedwig (Sandra Hüller). As the mundane activities of everyday life goes on, the sounds of the concentration camp are in the background, including gunshots and screams of agony. When Hess is due for re-assignment, Hedwig is horrified … to be losing her dream house.
”The Zone of Interest” expands nationwide on February 2nd. See local listings. Featuring Christian Friedel, Sandra Hüller, Freya Kreutzham, Ralph Herforth and Max Beck. Screenplay adapted and directed by Jonathan Glazer. Rated “PG-13”
Click Here for Patrick McDonald’s on-air review of “The Zone of Interest”
The Zone of Interest
Photo credit: A24
Click Here for Patrick McDonald’s on-air review of “The Zone of Interest”...
Rudolf Hess (Christian Friedel) is the commandant of the concentration camp at Auschwitz. He lives in a luxurious house right next door, complete with servants and all the stuff stolen from the prisoners, with his wife Hedwig (Sandra Hüller). As the mundane activities of everyday life goes on, the sounds of the concentration camp are in the background, including gunshots and screams of agony. When Hess is due for re-assignment, Hedwig is horrified … to be losing her dream house.
”The Zone of Interest” expands nationwide on February 2nd. See local listings. Featuring Christian Friedel, Sandra Hüller, Freya Kreutzham, Ralph Herforth and Max Beck. Screenplay adapted and directed by Jonathan Glazer. Rated “PG-13”
Click Here for Patrick McDonald’s on-air review of “The Zone of Interest”
The Zone of Interest
Photo credit: A24
Click Here for Patrick McDonald’s on-air review of “The Zone of Interest”...
- 2/2/2024
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
"I wanted to avoid the artifice of cinema." A24 has revealed a behind-the-scenes featurette for The Zone of Interest, the Best Picture nominated Holocaust film from British filmmaker Jonathan Glazer. It premiered at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival last year, and after opening in December, ended up with a total of five Oscar nominations – including Best Director and Best Sound. This film is about the Nazi commandant of Auschwitz, Rudolf Höss, and his family who live inside a nice house located adjacent to this horrible concentration camp in Poland. It stars Christian Friedel and Sandra Hüller as the couple, with Freya Kreutzkam, Max Beck, Imogen Kogge, Ralph Herforth. In this featurette, Glazer and his Polish Dp Łukasz Żal talk about filming this with cameras hidden in the house, and natural lighting, to make it as authentic and immersive as possible. Yes this is an outstanding film that deserves to be seen...
- 2/2/2024
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Jonathan Glazer’s The Zone Of Interest is arriving in cinemas imminently. You can see the final trailer for the film here.
While we expected nothing less, we’ve been hearing some interesting things about Jonathan Glazer’s soon-to-release holocaust drama, The Zone Of Interest.
Glazer’s last film, Under The Skin, was released almost a decade ago. Despite featuring a bona fide movie star in the form of Scarlett Johansson, the film was unconventional in almost every way. It famously was both booed and cheered at its Cannes debut, and we imagine that as something of a provocateur, Mr Glazer was probably delighted by that response.
Under The Skin was even made unconventionally, using hidden cameras and using people off the street who at some points didn’t even know they were ‘acting’ in a major A24 production. From what we’re hearing,The Zone Of Interest seems to...
While we expected nothing less, we’ve been hearing some interesting things about Jonathan Glazer’s soon-to-release holocaust drama, The Zone Of Interest.
Glazer’s last film, Under The Skin, was released almost a decade ago. Despite featuring a bona fide movie star in the form of Scarlett Johansson, the film was unconventional in almost every way. It famously was both booed and cheered at its Cannes debut, and we imagine that as something of a provocateur, Mr Glazer was probably delighted by that response.
Under The Skin was even made unconventionally, using hidden cameras and using people off the street who at some points didn’t even know they were ‘acting’ in a major A24 production. From what we’re hearing,The Zone Of Interest seems to...
- 12/6/2023
- by Dan Cooper
- Film Stories
"Thanks for your National Socialist hospitality." A24 has debuted a second official trailer for The Zone of Interest, the acclaimed new film from British filmmaker Jonathan Glazer. Opening in theaters soon this December, the film is appearing on lots of Top 10 lists this month. It originally premiered at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival earlier this year and was expected to win the Palme d'Or, though it ended up winning the Grand Prix second place prize. Though initially adapted from Martin Amis' novel of the same name, the film has a different focus. It's about the Nazi commandant of Auschwitz, Rudolf Höss, and his family who live in a nice home located adjacent to this horrible concentration camp in Poland. This stars Christian Friedel and Sandra Hüller as husband & wife, Freya Kreutzkam, Max Beck, Imogen Kogge, and Ralph Herforth. A deeply unsettling film about the banality of evil, following this German family...
- 12/5/2023
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
As the yin-yang decal on our yoga teacher’s Subaru Crosstrek reminds us thrice a week, every natural force or entity has its perfect mirror inverse. And so, just as during the summer we escaped to movie theaters in order to cool down from record high temps, the temperature extremes caused by climate collapse now drive us back to those same movie theaters for warmth, nursing our frigid tootsies at the hearth of the annual awards season dump of very exciting Don’t-Miss Indies. But Tldr; Happy Holidays!
Eileen
When You Can Watch: Now
Where You Can Watch: Theaters
Director: William Oldroyd
Cast: Thomasin McKenzie, Anne Hathaway, Shea Whigham, Marin Ireland
Why We’re Excited: Described as “wildly audacious, wondrously twisted” and “deliciously deranged” by Jessica Kiang in her review for Variety, director William Oldroyd’s sophomore feature after 2018’s Lady MacBeth (nominated for a Film Independent Spirit Award for...
Eileen
When You Can Watch: Now
Where You Can Watch: Theaters
Director: William Oldroyd
Cast: Thomasin McKenzie, Anne Hathaway, Shea Whigham, Marin Ireland
Why We’re Excited: Described as “wildly audacious, wondrously twisted” and “deliciously deranged” by Jessica Kiang in her review for Variety, director William Oldroyd’s sophomore feature after 2018’s Lady MacBeth (nominated for a Film Independent Spirit Award for...
- 12/4/2023
- by Su Fang Tham
- Film Independent News & More
A24 has released the first trailer for Jonathan Glazer’s haunting new Holocaust film Zone of Interest.
The German-language title has won raves from critics for its adaptation of Martin Amis’ 2014 novel, which focuses on the commandant of Auschwitz, Rudolf Höss, and his wife, Hedwig, “as they strive to build a dream life for their family in a house and garden next to the camp.”
The movie premiered at Cannes Film Festival where it won the Grand Prix award.
The Hollywood Reporter film critic David Rooney called it a “a devastating Holocaust drama like no other, which demonstrates with startling effectiveness the British formalist’s unerring control of tonal and visual storytelling.”
The film stars Christian Friedel, Sandra Hüller, Daniel Holzberg, Ralph Herforth and Sascha Maaz.
At Cannes, Glazer was asked about releasing Zone of Interest in light of the worldwide uptick in antisemitism. “What it’s trying to do...
The German-language title has won raves from critics for its adaptation of Martin Amis’ 2014 novel, which focuses on the commandant of Auschwitz, Rudolf Höss, and his wife, Hedwig, “as they strive to build a dream life for their family in a house and garden next to the camp.”
The movie premiered at Cannes Film Festival where it won the Grand Prix award.
The Hollywood Reporter film critic David Rooney called it a “a devastating Holocaust drama like no other, which demonstrates with startling effectiveness the British formalist’s unerring control of tonal and visual storytelling.”
The film stars Christian Friedel, Sandra Hüller, Daniel Holzberg, Ralph Herforth and Sascha Maaz.
At Cannes, Glazer was asked about releasing Zone of Interest in light of the worldwide uptick in antisemitism. “What it’s trying to do...
- 10/17/2023
- by James Hibberd
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
"Do not look away." A24 has revealed the first official trailer for The Zone of Interest, the acclaimed new film from British filmmaker Jonathan Glazer. This first premiered at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival earlier this year and it was expected to win the Palme d'Or, though it ended up taking home the second place prize Grand Prix just behind Anatomy of a Fall. Though initially adapted from Martin Amis' novel of the same name, the film has a different focus. It's about the Nazi commandant of Auschwitz, Rudolf Höss, and his family who live in a nice home just outside the walls of this horrible concentration camp during WWII. Starring Christian Friedel, Sandra Hüller, Freya Kreutzkam, Max Beck, Imogen Kogge, and Ralph Herforth. This is an intriguing first trailer, more of a teaser – setting the tone and giving everyone a glimpse of just how unsettling and fascinating this film is.
- 10/17/2023
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Jonathan Glazer’s first film in a decade is also his second film with A24. Glazer’s “The Zone of Interest” stars Christian Friedel as Auschwitz commandant Rudolf Höss and Sandra Hüller as his wife and accomplice Hedwig Höss in a loose adaptation of Martin Amis’ 2014 novel. Glazer’s last feature was the 2013 A24 film “Under the Skin.”
In the film, the Höss couple strive to build a dream life for their family in a house and garden directly adjacent to the Auschwitz concentration camp, where Höss was the longest-serving chief commander. But Jews are being exterminated on the other side of the wall as Höss and his wife turn a blind eye to atrocity.
Max Beck, Ralph Herforth, Stephanie Petrowitz, Sascha Maaz, Marie Rosa Tietjen, and Lilli Falk also star. “The Zone of Interest” lead actress Hüller additionally appears in Justine Triet’s buzzy Palme d’Or-winning thriller “Anatomy of a Fall,...
In the film, the Höss couple strive to build a dream life for their family in a house and garden directly adjacent to the Auschwitz concentration camp, where Höss was the longest-serving chief commander. But Jews are being exterminated on the other side of the wall as Höss and his wife turn a blind eye to atrocity.
Max Beck, Ralph Herforth, Stephanie Petrowitz, Sascha Maaz, Marie Rosa Tietjen, and Lilli Falk also star. “The Zone of Interest” lead actress Hüller additionally appears in Justine Triet’s buzzy Palme d’Or-winning thriller “Anatomy of a Fall,...
- 10/17/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
A24 has unveiled the trailer for Jonathan Glazer’s “The Zone of Interest.” The German-language Holocaust drama tells a chilling story of real-life German SS officer Rudolf Höss and his wife Hedwig, who raised their children in a farmhouse next door to Auschwitz. The film premiered this year at Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Grand Prix, the fest’s second most prestigious award.
Based loosely on Martin Amis’ 2014 book of the same name, “The Zone of Interest” stars Christian Friedel as Rudolf and Sandra Hüller as Hedwig, along with Daniel Holzberg, Ralph Herforth and Sascha Maaz. The film was shot entirely in Poland and Germany by award-winning cinematographer Łukasz Żal.
Variety’s chief film critic Owen Gleiberman called the film “chilling and profound, meditative and immersive, a movie that holds human darkness up to the light and examines it as if under a microscope.” Gleiberman continued in his review,...
Based loosely on Martin Amis’ 2014 book of the same name, “The Zone of Interest” stars Christian Friedel as Rudolf and Sandra Hüller as Hedwig, along with Daniel Holzberg, Ralph Herforth and Sascha Maaz. The film was shot entirely in Poland and Germany by award-winning cinematographer Łukasz Żal.
Variety’s chief film critic Owen Gleiberman called the film “chilling and profound, meditative and immersive, a movie that holds human darkness up to the light and examines it as if under a microscope.” Gleiberman continued in his review,...
- 10/17/2023
- by Sophia Scorziello
- Variety Film + TV
A24 has dated Jonathan Glazer’s World War II drama “The Zone of Interest.” The film, based loosely on the Martin Amis novel of the same name and the winner of both the Grand Prix and the Fipresci Prize out of Cannes, has been given a December release date. This means that the indie studio is positioning the film to factor in heavily to the year-end awards conversation (this is almost the exact same date that A24 opened the eventual Oscar-winner “The Whale” last year).
The plot of “The Zone of Interest” is described by the studio simply as: “The commandant of Auschwitz, Rudolf Höss, and his wife Hedwig, strive to build a dream life for their family in a house and garden next to the camp.” Our own review of the movie out of Cannes described it as “an austere and incandescent Holocaust drama. Neither provocation nor counter-point, ‘The Zone of Interest...
The plot of “The Zone of Interest” is described by the studio simply as: “The commandant of Auschwitz, Rudolf Höss, and his wife Hedwig, strive to build a dream life for their family in a house and garden next to the camp.” Our own review of the movie out of Cannes described it as “an austere and incandescent Holocaust drama. Neither provocation nor counter-point, ‘The Zone of Interest...
- 8/2/2023
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
The Zone of Interest is a British movie directed by Jonathan Glazer, starring Christian Friedel and Sandra Hüller.
Based on the novel by Martin Amis.
At the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, “The Zone of Interest” is the movie that everyone is talking about. Before this film, director Jonathan Glazer had only produced three full-length films: the slasher movie “Sexy Beast” from 2000, the divisive psychological drama “Birth,” and the eerie science fiction film “Under the Skin.”
Storyline
The commandant of Auschwitz, Rudolf Höss, and his wife Hedwig, strive to build a dream life for their family in a house and garden next to the camp.
The Cast
Christian Friedel/Rudolf Höss
Sandra Hüller/Hedwig Höss
Daniel Holzberg/Gerhard Maurer
Ralph Herforth/Oswald Pohl
The zone of interest – Press conference – Ev – Cannes 2023...
Based on the novel by Martin Amis.
At the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, “The Zone of Interest” is the movie that everyone is talking about. Before this film, director Jonathan Glazer had only produced three full-length films: the slasher movie “Sexy Beast” from 2000, the divisive psychological drama “Birth,” and the eerie science fiction film “Under the Skin.”
Storyline
The commandant of Auschwitz, Rudolf Höss, and his wife Hedwig, strive to build a dream life for their family in a house and garden next to the camp.
The Cast
Christian Friedel/Rudolf Höss
Sandra Hüller/Hedwig Höss
Daniel Holzberg/Gerhard Maurer
Ralph Herforth/Oswald Pohl
The zone of interest – Press conference – Ev – Cannes 2023...
- 5/25/2023
- by Movies Martin Cid Magazine
- Martin Cid Magazine - Movies
The Cannes Film Festival got in the zone of auteur Jonathan Glazer on Friday evening, hosting the world premiere of his anticipated new film The Zone of Interest.
The competition title, set and shot in Auschwitz, tells the story of a Nazi commandant and his wife striving to create a dream life for their family in a house and garden just outside the camp’s walls. It is loosely adapted from the Martin Amis novel of the same name. Toni Erdmann breakout Sandra Hüller stars opposite Christian Friedel, Ralph Herforth, Max Beck, Lilli Falk, Marie Rosa Tietjen, Stephanie Petrowitz and Sascha Maaz.
After the credits rolled, the audience responded with a six-minute standing ovation. Glazer took the microphone and offered brief comments, saying, “I’m really overwhelmed by this. Of course, it’s a dream. To be part of this, to be part of you, means everything.” The audience then continued applauding for another minute.
The competition title, set and shot in Auschwitz, tells the story of a Nazi commandant and his wife striving to create a dream life for their family in a house and garden just outside the camp’s walls. It is loosely adapted from the Martin Amis novel of the same name. Toni Erdmann breakout Sandra Hüller stars opposite Christian Friedel, Ralph Herforth, Max Beck, Lilli Falk, Marie Rosa Tietjen, Stephanie Petrowitz and Sascha Maaz.
After the credits rolled, the audience responded with a six-minute standing ovation. Glazer took the microphone and offered brief comments, saying, “I’m really overwhelmed by this. Of course, it’s a dream. To be part of this, to be part of you, means everything.” The audience then continued applauding for another minute.
- 5/19/2023
- by Chris Gardner
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
‘The Zone of Interest’ First Look: Jonathan Glazer Returns with First Feature Since ‘Under the Skin’
Jonathan Glazer is back on the big screen.
The “Under the Skin” director returns for his first feature in 10 years with “The Zone of Interest,” based on Martin Amis’ 2014 novel. The period piece follows Rudolf Höss (Christian Friedel), the commandant of Auschwitz, and his wife Hedwig (Sandra Hüller) who both strive to build a dream life for their family in the garden next to the concentration camp. The novel charts a love triangle with a Nazi officer who falls in love with Hedwig; the story is told from the perspective of three characters, one being a Jewish Sonderkommando.
Max Beck, Ralph Herforth, Stephanie Petrowitz, Sascha Maaz, Marie Rosa Tietjen, and Lilli Falk also star.
Łukasz Żal, the Oscar-nominated cinematographer of Pawel Pawlikowski’s “Ida” and “Cold War,” serves as the director of photography, with Paul Watts editing. The A24 film will be scored by composer Mica Levi. Glazer and Levi...
The “Under the Skin” director returns for his first feature in 10 years with “The Zone of Interest,” based on Martin Amis’ 2014 novel. The period piece follows Rudolf Höss (Christian Friedel), the commandant of Auschwitz, and his wife Hedwig (Sandra Hüller) who both strive to build a dream life for their family in the garden next to the concentration camp. The novel charts a love triangle with a Nazi officer who falls in love with Hedwig; the story is told from the perspective of three characters, one being a Jewish Sonderkommando.
Max Beck, Ralph Herforth, Stephanie Petrowitz, Sascha Maaz, Marie Rosa Tietjen, and Lilli Falk also star.
Łukasz Żal, the Oscar-nominated cinematographer of Pawel Pawlikowski’s “Ida” and “Cold War,” serves as the director of photography, with Paul Watts editing. The A24 film will be scored by composer Mica Levi. Glazer and Levi...
- 5/8/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
"You're not the only one. We're one big family." Netflix has debuted an official trailer for a German comedy titled Freaks - You're One of Us, a film about ordinary people who discover they have special powers. What an original concept. Not to be confused with the other Freaks film, this one comes from Deutschland. What if for your entire life you had superpowers you weren’t aware of? Tipped by a mysterious tramp, a meek fry cook (or "young working class mom") discovers she has superpowers — and uncovers an unsavory, widespread conspiracy. Others also have powers that have been suppressed by a medication. But why? The film stars Cornelia Gröschel as Wendy, Wotan Wilke Möhring as Marek, and Tim Oliver Schultz as Elmar; Nina Kunzendorf, Frederic Linkemann, Finnlay Berger, Gisa Flake, Ralph Herforth, and Thelma Buabeng. This looks as painfully cheesy and as derivative as they come, nothing really to see here.
- 8/12/2020
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Viva Berlin! Trailer. Moritz Mohr‘s Viva Berlin! (2011) web series trailer stars Jens Atzorn, Christian Blümel, Ralph Herforth, Alissa Jung, and Yûho Yamashita. Viva Berlin! plot synopsis: “An unknown plague is rapidly spreading in Berlin. All its carriers turn into blood-thirsty zombies who feed off the uninfected. After a short time, ninety five percent of the population is dead or undead; Berlin’s face has changed entirely. Viva Berlin! is Germany’s first serious attempt at a zombie project. The series consists of five mini-episodes – horror stories without a single soft spot. The ultimate genre experience – as hard and unsparing as true zombie fans appreciate it.”
This looks cool, as violent as The Walking Dead and Planet Terror. The sniper in this web series trailer is very skilled.
Watch the Viva Berlin! movie trailer below and leave your thoughts on them in the comments section. For more Viva Berlin! photos,...
This looks cool, as violent as The Walking Dead and Planet Terror. The sniper in this web series trailer is very skilled.
Watch the Viva Berlin! movie trailer below and leave your thoughts on them in the comments section. For more Viva Berlin! photos,...
- 11/8/2011
- by filmbook
- Film-Book
Viva Berlin! is written by Moritz Mohr and written by Benjamin Karalic and Benjamin Munz and stars Jens Atzorn, Christian Blümel and Ralph Herforth. Zombies rise from their graves and start a bloody attack on on the capital in Viva Berlin! Viva Berlin! is Germany's first attempt at a zombie series that was completed by film students as their final project at "Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg". The students wanted to make a film series that was like "horror stories without fabric softener," and provide "genre fare at its finest, as hard and uncompromising as the zombie fans have come to expect."...
- 11/7/2011
- Best-Horror-Movies.com
Nowadays everyone has a web series. There are so many out there that it's getting harder and harder to point you to the ones that are worth your time; however, in the case of "Viva Berlin"... well, let's just say that you'll see for yourself.
Directed by Moritz Mohr, "Viva Berlin!" stars Sina Tkotsch, Ralph Herforth, Christian Blümel, Can Aydin, Alissa Jung, Timur Isik, Jens Atzorn, Kai Michael Wolter and Yuho Yamashita.
The series looks to have a five-episode arc, and if you're a fan of zombie flicks and shows, this one is looking like required viewing. Dig it!
Synopsis
An unknown plague is rapidly spreading in Berlin. All its carriers turn into bloodthirsty zombies who feed off the uninfected. After a short time, ninety-five percent of the population is dead or undead; Berlin’s face has changed entirely. Viva Berlin! is Germany’s first serious attempt at a zombie project.
Directed by Moritz Mohr, "Viva Berlin!" stars Sina Tkotsch, Ralph Herforth, Christian Blümel, Can Aydin, Alissa Jung, Timur Isik, Jens Atzorn, Kai Michael Wolter and Yuho Yamashita.
The series looks to have a five-episode arc, and if you're a fan of zombie flicks and shows, this one is looking like required viewing. Dig it!
Synopsis
An unknown plague is rapidly spreading in Berlin. All its carriers turn into bloodthirsty zombies who feed off the uninfected. After a short time, ninety-five percent of the population is dead or undead; Berlin’s face has changed entirely. Viva Berlin! is Germany’s first serious attempt at a zombie project.
- 11/7/2011
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
"A Map of the Heart" (Der Felsen) is a dreary tale about a distraught tourist losing her emotional balance on the Mediterranean island of Corsica. Hoping to sell audiences on its deeper meanings, though, veteran German director Dominik Graf lavishes every trick of lighting and video camerawork he knows on this meager story populated with many unsympathetic characters.
It's No Sale, but, hey, you can't blame a guy for trying. You can, however, blame him for trite characters, contrived situations and implausible coincidences. Even these Graf and co-writer Markus Busch try to explain away by unraveling the tale within the African tradition of improvisational storytelling. Practitioners, who still ply this trade in Corsica, must link three random objects with an impromptu story, thus excusing the weird contours of its plot lines.
Mostly, Graf makes himself the movie's star by using the story as a pretext for his self-serving visuals. There will always be critics, some adult moviegoers and even festival juries impressed by such showoffs, so who knows how this competition film will fare at the Berlin International Film Festival? In the commercial marketplace, though, "Map" can expect only the shortest of theatrical runs.
Katrin's (Karoline Eichhorn) holiday becomes a nightmare when her married lover (Ralph Herforth) informs her that his wife is pregnant. (Doesn't your heart go out to her already?) When he splits, the unhinged Katrin strays from her "tourist sanctuary" to the company of male lowlifes who seemingly lurk around every corner on Corsica.
She falls in with a German youth named Malte (Antonio Wannek), who turns out to be a resident of a nearby camp of juvenile delinquents. His puppy-dog devotion to Katrin distracts her from the island's other sexual warriors. Malte goes AWOL from the camp, taking Katrin and his 11-year-old brother Kai (Sebastian Urzendowsky) on a volatile journey into the mountains.
What Malte's brother is doing on Corsica is never explained. Kai spends most of his time collecting junk from the beaches and trying to convince German tourists to adopt him.
The story bears scant scrutiny, but the characters are noteworthy for being among the most dislikable encountered in recent movies. Seemingly, they all lack brains, morality or even survival instincts. Wannek's Malte is the most viable character, an instinctual, amoral youth thrown for a loop by his first encounter with absolute love. Eichhorn projects an earthy sensuality, but Katrin is such a dummy that she can do little but go for broke in playing the emotive extremes.
The movie is jumpy and impressionistic, with the fatalistic drone of an unknown narrator playing against Hana Mullner's nervous editing and cinematographer Benedict Neuenfels' mix of light levels and weather conditions.
A MAP OF THE HEART
Kinowelt/ZDF/Bavaria Film
Producer: Gloria Burkert
Director: Dominik Graf
Screenwriters: Markus Busch, Dominik Graf
Director of photography: Benedict Neuenfels
Production designer: Claus Jurgen Pfeiffer
Music: Dieter Schleip
Costume designer: Barbara Grupp
Editor: Hana Mullner
Color/stereo
Cast:
Katrin: Karoline Eichhorn
Malte: Antonio Wannek
Kai: Sebastian Urzendowsky
Jurgen: Ralph Herforth
Robert: Peter Lohmeyer
Running time -- 116 minutes
No MPAA rating...
It's No Sale, but, hey, you can't blame a guy for trying. You can, however, blame him for trite characters, contrived situations and implausible coincidences. Even these Graf and co-writer Markus Busch try to explain away by unraveling the tale within the African tradition of improvisational storytelling. Practitioners, who still ply this trade in Corsica, must link three random objects with an impromptu story, thus excusing the weird contours of its plot lines.
Mostly, Graf makes himself the movie's star by using the story as a pretext for his self-serving visuals. There will always be critics, some adult moviegoers and even festival juries impressed by such showoffs, so who knows how this competition film will fare at the Berlin International Film Festival? In the commercial marketplace, though, "Map" can expect only the shortest of theatrical runs.
Katrin's (Karoline Eichhorn) holiday becomes a nightmare when her married lover (Ralph Herforth) informs her that his wife is pregnant. (Doesn't your heart go out to her already?) When he splits, the unhinged Katrin strays from her "tourist sanctuary" to the company of male lowlifes who seemingly lurk around every corner on Corsica.
She falls in with a German youth named Malte (Antonio Wannek), who turns out to be a resident of a nearby camp of juvenile delinquents. His puppy-dog devotion to Katrin distracts her from the island's other sexual warriors. Malte goes AWOL from the camp, taking Katrin and his 11-year-old brother Kai (Sebastian Urzendowsky) on a volatile journey into the mountains.
What Malte's brother is doing on Corsica is never explained. Kai spends most of his time collecting junk from the beaches and trying to convince German tourists to adopt him.
The story bears scant scrutiny, but the characters are noteworthy for being among the most dislikable encountered in recent movies. Seemingly, they all lack brains, morality or even survival instincts. Wannek's Malte is the most viable character, an instinctual, amoral youth thrown for a loop by his first encounter with absolute love. Eichhorn projects an earthy sensuality, but Katrin is such a dummy that she can do little but go for broke in playing the emotive extremes.
The movie is jumpy and impressionistic, with the fatalistic drone of an unknown narrator playing against Hana Mullner's nervous editing and cinematographer Benedict Neuenfels' mix of light levels and weather conditions.
A MAP OF THE HEART
Kinowelt/ZDF/Bavaria Film
Producer: Gloria Burkert
Director: Dominik Graf
Screenwriters: Markus Busch, Dominik Graf
Director of photography: Benedict Neuenfels
Production designer: Claus Jurgen Pfeiffer
Music: Dieter Schleip
Costume designer: Barbara Grupp
Editor: Hana Mullner
Color/stereo
Cast:
Katrin: Karoline Eichhorn
Malte: Antonio Wannek
Kai: Sebastian Urzendowsky
Jurgen: Ralph Herforth
Robert: Peter Lohmeyer
Running time -- 116 minutes
No MPAA rating...
- 2/27/2002
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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