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Germany/ France/UK 2016 103 minutes |
Synopsis: Based on a true story, Hans Fallada’s powerful and redemptive novel, written shortly after the Second World War, describes a city paralyzed by fear. Otto and Anna Quangel are an ordinary couple living in a shabby apartment block in Berlin trying, like everyone else, to stay out of trouble under Nazi rule. But when their only child is killed fighting at the front, their loss propels them into an extraordinary act of resistance. They start to drop anonymous postcards all over the city attacking Hitler and his regime. If caught, it means certain execution. Soon their campaign comes to the attention of the Gestapo inspector, Escherich, and a murderous game of cat-and-mouse begins. But the game serves only to strengthen Otto and Anna’s sense of purpose, and slowly their drab lives and marriage are transformed as they unite in their quiet but profound rebellion. For the DIRECTORIAL REVIEWS, click here. Production Notes: Filming took place in Berlin, Cologne and Görlitz beginning March 27, 2015 and continued through the beginning of June. See production photos.
From Cineuropa (April 1, 2015): Stefan Arndt and Uwe Schott, of
Berlin-based production outfit X Filme Creative Pool, are co-producing with
French producer Marco Pacchioni, of Master Movies, who bought the rights to
the novel with Vincent Perez seven years ago. Further producers on board
include former Focus Features CEO James Schamus as well as Christian Grass
and Paul Trijbits from FilmWave, who will handle the UK rights for the film. "I read the book and I got addicted to it. It was obviously a very cinematic story... People did tiny things and lost their lives, and we never talk about it. We’re telling the story of those people." "We wanted to tell a universal story. It was important to tell this story not only for Germany, but also France, Britain and Israel, and throughout the world that has seen the occurrence of such extreme events. It is important to show that everyone can fight. You need the courage. " |
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