I saw this film this week and since there is no comment yet I'll have the honor ;) I don't want to go into detail and tell or analyse the story right now but I want to say that it's really outrageous. I haven't read the book to it yet I must confess but my friend did and she said that the movie is somewhat different, which is quite logical. I think that they really made the best out of the story, the book was basically about a catastrophe and the life before and after an atomic accident. I give away that there is a love-story that wasn't obvious in the book but it is not like in other book-picturisations a public-lure, it is just a wonderfully insight-giving thread. I liked it that the film does not rush through things, it's not that you feel after fife minutes like "okay that was the life before it now" and then "ooh yeah the accident, now there's gonna be action". Far from it. It starts like a great movie about common characters, life, family, love, youth .. and the film manages to keep your attention but it does not lead you into a romantic ideal-world-feeling that crashes when the alarm rings, it just is realistic, to sum it up. And all in all it really keeps your attention, your interest and your emotions, it gives room for emotions and thoughts about the meaning of love, of life, existence and death at the same time and there's not a sweet beginning, a total clue of action, sadness and shock with an abrupt ending, it has this sweet expectation that again and again there's something worse to come up that leaves you sitting small but gracefully and caring but not unnecessarily crying in the cinema-chair. The actors did a great job, all of them, above all the quite young main characters. To put it in a nutshell: go and experience that experience, but do it aware and on a day your nerves are strong, with someone you can look at in moving moments where words wouldn't do but loneliness would turn the effect in another direction, don't "just go to the movies" because this is not "just a film". every blessing /eicberin/
11 Reviews
Good stuff in terms of writing, acting and directing
Horst_In_Translation17 February 2017
Warning: Spoilers
"Die Wolke" or "The Cloud" is a German 105-minute movie from 2006, so this one had its 10th anniversary last year. The director is Gregor Schnitzler and it is certainly one of his best efforts. This is also true about the writer duo here, Ainscough and Kreuzpaintner, who have done worse during their careers, especially the former. These two adapted the novel by Gudrun Pausewang here. This is the story of a teenage girl and what happens when her first love happens at the very same time like a nuclear catastrophe that has an impact on her and all her beloved ones and actually on thousands of people in Germany. This film is not really about telling us that nuclear reactors are bad (even if it still gets the message across), but it is about the fate of individuals concerned by the disaster and the film works very well without big action sequences or (not so) special effects trying to hide the lack of substance as it has been done so so many times in catastrophe movies here in Germany.
I may be a bit biased as I have always liked Paula Kalenberg, but for me she is the heart and soul of the movie. It is very easy to cheer for her and her happiness and well-being because of the approach P.K. gives to her character. The script, however, is really good too and works nicely for the most part. They weren't afraid of taking risks like the boy's death that may shock the audience or depict Kalenberg with a bald head that shows however that lack of hair cannot destroy love in a nice metaphorical way. The best (and equally most devastating scene) of the film, however, is the toxic rain sequence. Heartbreaking stuff there. This one was also an 8/10 at least and i would have been way more effective on the big screen too I am sure. I would not say that this is a perfect film and my liking for Kalenberg (especially her face expression in the kissing scenes) may cloud (no pun intended!) my vision a bit here, but I think that eventually it is a very rewarding watch. And even if the future may not be as bright as I want it to be, I am somewhat glad the film ends on a positive, almost uplifting, note. But even besides that, like I already said, this one here shows all the horribly untalented filmmakers when it comes to disaster movies (especially the way mass panic is put on display here) worldwide how it is to be done. Initially, you may think this film is mostly for audiences that are roughly the same age as the central characters, i.e. teenagers, but this would be a very short-minded assumption. It is for everybody who likes quality movies and certainly considerably closer to "great" than to "mediocre". I very much recommend checking it out.
I may be a bit biased as I have always liked Paula Kalenberg, but for me she is the heart and soul of the movie. It is very easy to cheer for her and her happiness and well-being because of the approach P.K. gives to her character. The script, however, is really good too and works nicely for the most part. They weren't afraid of taking risks like the boy's death that may shock the audience or depict Kalenberg with a bald head that shows however that lack of hair cannot destroy love in a nice metaphorical way. The best (and equally most devastating scene) of the film, however, is the toxic rain sequence. Heartbreaking stuff there. This one was also an 8/10 at least and i would have been way more effective on the big screen too I am sure. I would not say that this is a perfect film and my liking for Kalenberg (especially her face expression in the kissing scenes) may cloud (no pun intended!) my vision a bit here, but I think that eventually it is a very rewarding watch. And even if the future may not be as bright as I want it to be, I am somewhat glad the film ends on a positive, almost uplifting, note. But even besides that, like I already said, this one here shows all the horribly untalented filmmakers when it comes to disaster movies (especially the way mass panic is put on display here) worldwide how it is to be done. Initially, you may think this film is mostly for audiences that are roughly the same age as the central characters, i.e. teenagers, but this would be a very short-minded assumption. It is for everybody who likes quality movies and certainly considerably closer to "great" than to "mediocre". I very much recommend checking it out.
American cinema
tributarystu6 September 2006
It's strange how trends tend to migrate regardless of their nature - good or bad. And it's definitely not only the case in modern cinema, but also in day to day life. One might actually notice that some trends are more 'adaptable' than others and it just so happens that it's the lesser trends which have this characteristic.
Yet, talking about trends is like talking about the act of imitation, because that's all there is to do in order to 'adopt' a certain shift in secular thinking. Unfortunately, though, while the act itself - the act of imitating, that is - was once considered the premise for facilitating swifter advancements in a nation's cultural endeavours, the underlying concept seems to have been...misplaced. That is, the concept of adapting, which implies creating shapes that can serve as a basis for foreign 'imports'.
I am so sorry for digressing in such a disgusting manner, but I believe it serves an obvious purpose. It's truly a shame that a culture as vast as the German one is ignored in producing a movie which is so "hollywoodian" it simply implodes. Too much of anything just can't survive.
"Die Wolke" is based on what I heard to be a heart-breaking story about love facing boundaries. A bit atypical, in the sense that the problem isn't of a common nature, such as family or society, but of a more horrendous one: a nuclear meltdown. Given that the starting point is one of such graveness, it would have been important not to overemphasize *some* aspects of the film. Regretfully, this is exactly what happens and the movie slowly turns into a love story that sometimes simply goes beyond the pathetic (in the Oxfordian sense of "causing one to feel pity or sadness").
As the "Wolke" catches up with the main protagonist, a girl named Hannah, she is severely affected by the radiation. Elmar, her boyfriend, defies his father's (who just happens to be as rich as they come) and in a gesture of absolute altruism and complete devotion starts to search for his Hannah. I guess a more pragmatical viewer can imagine what outcome the relationship between a healthy person and a one recently 'radiated' might have.
I hate being overly sarcastic, but sometimes this is all we humble mortals are left with, in the face of a work that tries to be of such an astounding magnitude and, actually, is nowhere near it. There are, however, some things I enjoyed about "Die Wolke". Actually, it's only one thing, but of quite an importance: somehow the film managed to convey the disaster at a fine pace, in all it's urgency and in a rather threatening manner. And this is truly an impressive achievement, as the film does not rely on extensive SFX.
To digress once more, for a bit: this German movie tries to be as American as possible. The thing is, if you're trying to do a disaster movie without massive special effects, then you might as well try to avoid using ALL the clichés you've ever stumbled over. Not being pretentious when playing with art is of the utmost importance.
Yet, talking about trends is like talking about the act of imitation, because that's all there is to do in order to 'adopt' a certain shift in secular thinking. Unfortunately, though, while the act itself - the act of imitating, that is - was once considered the premise for facilitating swifter advancements in a nation's cultural endeavours, the underlying concept seems to have been...misplaced. That is, the concept of adapting, which implies creating shapes that can serve as a basis for foreign 'imports'.
I am so sorry for digressing in such a disgusting manner, but I believe it serves an obvious purpose. It's truly a shame that a culture as vast as the German one is ignored in producing a movie which is so "hollywoodian" it simply implodes. Too much of anything just can't survive.
"Die Wolke" is based on what I heard to be a heart-breaking story about love facing boundaries. A bit atypical, in the sense that the problem isn't of a common nature, such as family or society, but of a more horrendous one: a nuclear meltdown. Given that the starting point is one of such graveness, it would have been important not to overemphasize *some* aspects of the film. Regretfully, this is exactly what happens and the movie slowly turns into a love story that sometimes simply goes beyond the pathetic (in the Oxfordian sense of "causing one to feel pity or sadness").
As the "Wolke" catches up with the main protagonist, a girl named Hannah, she is severely affected by the radiation. Elmar, her boyfriend, defies his father's (who just happens to be as rich as they come) and in a gesture of absolute altruism and complete devotion starts to search for his Hannah. I guess a more pragmatical viewer can imagine what outcome the relationship between a healthy person and a one recently 'radiated' might have.
I hate being overly sarcastic, but sometimes this is all we humble mortals are left with, in the face of a work that tries to be of such an astounding magnitude and, actually, is nowhere near it. There are, however, some things I enjoyed about "Die Wolke". Actually, it's only one thing, but of quite an importance: somehow the film managed to convey the disaster at a fine pace, in all it's urgency and in a rather threatening manner. And this is truly an impressive achievement, as the film does not rely on extensive SFX.
To digress once more, for a bit: this German movie tries to be as American as possible. The thing is, if you're trying to do a disaster movie without massive special effects, then you might as well try to avoid using ALL the clichés you've ever stumbled over. Not being pretentious when playing with art is of the utmost importance.
You will puke if you care about facts and the truth. Otherwise a good movie.
AnybodyMustermann31 July 2013
Warning: Spoilers
Well made movie with good acting and good directing but I was shocked about the content. Just about EVERYTHING this movie shows from start to finish is demonstrably wrong.
Some examples:
a) in the very first few seconds a voice can be heard telling us how they're powering up a reactor. This supposedly is done within seconds, while in reality going to full power is more like days. Is this important? No, but it sets up the scene for all the BS that follows.
b) after the accident happens a couple of kids drive in a car and - this is so cheesy - one after another state - factually wrong - anti- nuclear-talking-lines. Like that after the Harrisburg/ThreeMileIsland accident cancer rates skyrocketed (read Wikipedia on this, 2 additional cancers in the area are not exactly skyrocketing)
c) everyone runs away and fears "the cloud". I could not believe my eyes when the movie actually shows a dangerous and dark cloud. WTF !!! There is no reason whatsoever why there should be a visible and dangerous cloud (except for random weather, and in the weather shown this ominous cloud doesn't really fit). But I guess it looks good on screen and is really scary.
d) the movie reinforces the (dangerous) stereotype that people suffering from radiation exposure are themselves radiating and therefore dangerous to others! This is for the most part complete and utter BS. Just because you've been exposed you are not a danger to everyone around you and especially not as the movie claims MONTHS after your exposure.
e) the movie claims 38.000 people died and EVERYONE in a 5km radius died from radiation. Considering that after several simultaneous meltdowns in Fukushima the death toll from radiation still stands at ZERO... this just doesn't make any sense and is completely disconnected from reality.
Watch this movie if you like. It's well made but be aware that it's pure propaganda and has NOTHING at all to do with reality. If you consider yourself a member of the reality-based community you will probably have to puke while watching this if you know anything at all about this topic.
Some examples:
a) in the very first few seconds a voice can be heard telling us how they're powering up a reactor. This supposedly is done within seconds, while in reality going to full power is more like days. Is this important? No, but it sets up the scene for all the BS that follows.
b) after the accident happens a couple of kids drive in a car and - this is so cheesy - one after another state - factually wrong - anti- nuclear-talking-lines. Like that after the Harrisburg/ThreeMileIsland accident cancer rates skyrocketed (read Wikipedia on this, 2 additional cancers in the area are not exactly skyrocketing)
c) everyone runs away and fears "the cloud". I could not believe my eyes when the movie actually shows a dangerous and dark cloud. WTF !!! There is no reason whatsoever why there should be a visible and dangerous cloud (except for random weather, and in the weather shown this ominous cloud doesn't really fit). But I guess it looks good on screen and is really scary.
d) the movie reinforces the (dangerous) stereotype that people suffering from radiation exposure are themselves radiating and therefore dangerous to others! This is for the most part complete and utter BS. Just because you've been exposed you are not a danger to everyone around you and especially not as the movie claims MONTHS after your exposure.
e) the movie claims 38.000 people died and EVERYONE in a 5km radius died from radiation. Considering that after several simultaneous meltdowns in Fukushima the death toll from radiation still stands at ZERO... this just doesn't make any sense and is completely disconnected from reality.
Watch this movie if you like. It's well made but be aware that it's pure propaganda and has NOTHING at all to do with reality. If you consider yourself a member of the reality-based community you will probably have to puke while watching this if you know anything at all about this topic.
Realisic catastrophe scenario in Germany
malojo22 March 2006
I've read the novel of Mrs. Pausewang when I was a child, so I had an idea what that was about and what I had to expect. The first part of the movie is very closed to the book and well done. The second part is mainly about the main characters and you get interesting information about the situation ( f.e. political decisions ) only in the background. Because of that I give only 8 points. I think this is the price you have to pay to make such a movie work. The movie is well done and gives an interesting view to such a catastrophe in front of my house. If you have read the book or you are interested in this topic I can recommend this good German movie.
Megatons not mega-teens
nickcomfort30 March 2006
The long-awaited film adaptation of Gudrun Pausewang's 1988 bestseller, lives up to readers and critics expectations alike. As in the novel, the teenaged protagonists take centre-stage in the cautionary antinuclear tale. The focus remains so fixedly on our young heroine and her troubled beau, that, were it not for the occasional shot of the brooding dark cloud moving at breakneck pace across the idyllic German countryside, we would likely forget the nuclear catastrophe, and relegate it to the position of initiator of events, rather than overriding drama.
The film's sentimentality is given carte blanche, as teenage angst is substituted and validated with abstract and scientifically incorrect fears and assertions about the safety of atomic energy. Being put on par with national if not global energy policy, the horror-drama of the characters situations forces our sympathy, and by the end of the film, we find our selves wanting to scream out: "It would have all worked out, were it not for those dratted power plants!" Not to deny that nuclear catastrophes have an individual human cost, but they also have a mass human cost, a catastrophe can only be shown to be such, when the universalising magnitude of its scale is shown. "Die Wolke", gives us a gaggle of teenagers with whom we identify no more than any other group of acne-poppers whose fragile lives are thrown out of balance on Sunday afternoon television.
Viewers cold, utilitarian, opinions are countered with a brand of Dickensian humanism with an agenda. The film is prefaced in many cinemas with a reductionist piece of sensationalism, namely advertising by Greenpeace. Greenpeace are an action group, yes, but Greenpeace energy is a privately owned energy provider. This introduction leaves a bitter taste in the viewers mouth that does not abate, but tends to get surge up again, whenever the films characters utter one of their newly wise energy policy statements "Nuclear energy, we should have got rid of it years ago!" "And switched to Greenpeace," was all that was ringing in this critics ears.
In Regensburg' s Ostentor Cinema, a Q and A session (heavily focusing on the A) was held after the film. Invited were a political figure, a doctor specialising in catastrophe medicine, the organiser of the Evangelisches Bildungswerk and a judge turned politico. While they all agreed the film lacked scientific consultation, they all proceeded to use it as a platform to float their differing opinions. The panicked audience rattled off questions as to what they were to do in case of nuclear catastrophe, "The opposite of what they do in the film!" was the popular response. While increased cancer rates were shown in the following years, only two people died from the direct explosion and radiation in Tschernobyl. The majority of the deaths among those 30- 40,000 expected to die following a nuclear catastrophe result from unrest in the fleeing population.
If panic is the overriding sentiment following a change in nuclear policy, such as might be produced by a major meltdown in the reactor of power plant, then it is no great leap to assume that panic is also the overriding sentiment in the depiction of nuclear energy in film.
The film's sentimentality is given carte blanche, as teenage angst is substituted and validated with abstract and scientifically incorrect fears and assertions about the safety of atomic energy. Being put on par with national if not global energy policy, the horror-drama of the characters situations forces our sympathy, and by the end of the film, we find our selves wanting to scream out: "It would have all worked out, were it not for those dratted power plants!" Not to deny that nuclear catastrophes have an individual human cost, but they also have a mass human cost, a catastrophe can only be shown to be such, when the universalising magnitude of its scale is shown. "Die Wolke", gives us a gaggle of teenagers with whom we identify no more than any other group of acne-poppers whose fragile lives are thrown out of balance on Sunday afternoon television.
Viewers cold, utilitarian, opinions are countered with a brand of Dickensian humanism with an agenda. The film is prefaced in many cinemas with a reductionist piece of sensationalism, namely advertising by Greenpeace. Greenpeace are an action group, yes, but Greenpeace energy is a privately owned energy provider. This introduction leaves a bitter taste in the viewers mouth that does not abate, but tends to get surge up again, whenever the films characters utter one of their newly wise energy policy statements "Nuclear energy, we should have got rid of it years ago!" "And switched to Greenpeace," was all that was ringing in this critics ears.
In Regensburg' s Ostentor Cinema, a Q and A session (heavily focusing on the A) was held after the film. Invited were a political figure, a doctor specialising in catastrophe medicine, the organiser of the Evangelisches Bildungswerk and a judge turned politico. While they all agreed the film lacked scientific consultation, they all proceeded to use it as a platform to float their differing opinions. The panicked audience rattled off questions as to what they were to do in case of nuclear catastrophe, "The opposite of what they do in the film!" was the popular response. While increased cancer rates were shown in the following years, only two people died from the direct explosion and radiation in Tschernobyl. The majority of the deaths among those 30- 40,000 expected to die following a nuclear catastrophe result from unrest in the fleeing population.
If panic is the overriding sentiment following a change in nuclear policy, such as might be produced by a major meltdown in the reactor of power plant, then it is no great leap to assume that panic is also the overriding sentiment in the depiction of nuclear energy in film.
An atomic power plant accident in Germany. Everyone tries to safe their live no matter what. But still there's love that helps to keep two people alive.
nipping6 April 2006
Warning: Spoilers
First of all I would like to say that I loved the movie. When I went to watch this movie I didn't know what to expect, I only knew that it was about an atomic power plant accident in Germany. I think it's a topic that everyone is involved even if they are not living here, where the movie was shot. Even if it might seem closer when you live right next to the place the atomic power plant accident is happening in the movie. The movie is about telling us, that we have to think about the atomic power plants that are all around us, and could destroy our live in such a short time. After the accident happened and Hannah and Elmar find themselves in crowds of people just running around to save their lifes from 'the cloud', the death that no ones sees they have and keep their close love that began right before the accident. They don't have much time to live, they will probably die soon(the movie didn't tell if and how they died) but still there's that strong love between them that helps them get through it. They might even have lived a better life then people that live for 80 years and haven't had the luck to have such strong feelings. In my eyes the movie was really sad. Probably the saddest movie I have seen so far. Franz and Paula who played Hannah and Elmar did a great job. Very passionate and believable.
chilling and very good acting
alexandra_wilke29 September 2014
Warning: Spoilers
I watched the movie the other day and I have to say, I'm surprised. The acting was believable and the girl did a fantstic job in my opinion.
Also the invisible, omnipresent danger was so chilling, the reactions of all people who ran from the peril - the panic and turmoil at the station was just palpable.
I have to say though - replying to a previous post by a user - the dark cloud shown was just a rain cloud and nothing more. That woman who exclaimed "she's coming!" when she saw that dark cloud approach, acted simply of stupidity and sheer panic of the nuclear cloud reportedly approaching the town. the woman was mistaken and thus caused an even greater commotion. That might be a typical reaction if you know nothing about the peril you're in...
Anyway - the film was good and at least a bit of insight what might happen... hopefully never.
Also the invisible, omnipresent danger was so chilling, the reactions of all people who ran from the peril - the panic and turmoil at the station was just palpable.
I have to say though - replying to a previous post by a user - the dark cloud shown was just a rain cloud and nothing more. That woman who exclaimed "she's coming!" when she saw that dark cloud approach, acted simply of stupidity and sheer panic of the nuclear cloud reportedly approaching the town. the woman was mistaken and thus caused an even greater commotion. That might be a typical reaction if you know nothing about the peril you're in...
Anyway - the film was good and at least a bit of insight what might happen... hopefully never.
Has some intense moments
blumdeluxe3 November 2018
Warning: Spoilers
"Die Wolke" is a German movie dealing with the consequences of an atomic outbreak. When a young girl and her new-found boyfriend get caught by surprise in school, they have to try to escape and make some major decisions.
I really like that the film takes this scenario serious, a scenario that I don't find all too interesting for an outstanding major movie release but that is really depicted from the human side here. The film has quite a few of intense moments that are really hard to bear and that seem plausible in such a scenario. Of course there are some logical errors (Dozens of people arriving at the train station magically all at once while after that no one arrives any more..yep) that prevent a higher rating and yes the film is rather cheesy. But still, it surprised me positively.
All in all this is a film that is sometimes hard to watch because it deals with a severe and horrible topic. If you are willing to bear this you will start to think about our energy in a diferent way and not take such incidents easy.
I really like that the film takes this scenario serious, a scenario that I don't find all too interesting for an outstanding major movie release but that is really depicted from the human side here. The film has quite a few of intense moments that are really hard to bear and that seem plausible in such a scenario. Of course there are some logical errors (Dozens of people arriving at the train station magically all at once while after that no one arrives any more..yep) that prevent a higher rating and yes the film is rather cheesy. But still, it surprised me positively.
All in all this is a film that is sometimes hard to watch because it deals with a severe and horrible topic. If you are willing to bear this you will start to think about our energy in a diferent way and not take such incidents easy.
Not a movie you will soon forget.
kalkrys25 October 2021
I don't speak German, but after reading two Wikipedia articles' plot summaries of this title (one the book, the other the movie as The Cloud) and then watching the movie carefully, I was able to follow the story.
The first part of this movie is the nuclear accident. It moves steadily along. What stood out to me are the behavior of the brother, Uli, and the actions of the heroine, Hannah, both of which become annoying. They are in a gravely emergent situation for their lives. The brother may be too young to fully appreciate it; and I don't know if I could be pragmatic enough, even coldblooded, to just walk away when the heroine needs to. The heroine's actions are completely inane when she becomes contaminated. The outcomes of these characters' actions have to happen to make the story, but the setup for them could have been done differently.
The second part of the movie, when the heroine wakes up, is downright poignant and haunting. It is no longer about a nuclear accident. I still feel unsettled after watching the movie. I will watch it again (and again), at least the second part. I wish there was more to it, especially some of what is in the book that is not included in the movie. You may find that the second part pretty much makes you forget about the first part. 9/10 for the overall effect of the movie. There are aspects of it that could have been done better. Of course, understanding German to know the actual dialog may smooth out these things.
While there is not an English version of the movie, there is one of the book. The movie is different from the book in a number of ways, especially the second half of the story. The book has a much harsher presentation of it, and is even more unsettling. Especially coming out after Chernobyl, the book is regarded as a protest against nuclear energy.
The first part of this movie is the nuclear accident. It moves steadily along. What stood out to me are the behavior of the brother, Uli, and the actions of the heroine, Hannah, both of which become annoying. They are in a gravely emergent situation for their lives. The brother may be too young to fully appreciate it; and I don't know if I could be pragmatic enough, even coldblooded, to just walk away when the heroine needs to. The heroine's actions are completely inane when she becomes contaminated. The outcomes of these characters' actions have to happen to make the story, but the setup for them could have been done differently.
The second part of the movie, when the heroine wakes up, is downright poignant and haunting. It is no longer about a nuclear accident. I still feel unsettled after watching the movie. I will watch it again (and again), at least the second part. I wish there was more to it, especially some of what is in the book that is not included in the movie. You may find that the second part pretty much makes you forget about the first part. 9/10 for the overall effect of the movie. There are aspects of it that could have been done better. Of course, understanding German to know the actual dialog may smooth out these things.
While there is not an English version of the movie, there is one of the book. The movie is different from the book in a number of ways, especially the second half of the story. The book has a much harsher presentation of it, and is even more unsettling. Especially coming out after Chernobyl, the book is regarded as a protest against nuclear energy.
Die Wolke (The Cloud)
Ashley-Golden15 August 2021
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