Stroszek (1977)

Director:

Werner Herzog

Writer:

Werner Herzog (writer)

Release Date:

12 January 1977 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

In Berlin, an alcoholic man, recently released from prison, joins his elderly friend and a prostitute in a determined dream to leave Germany and seek a better life in Wisconsin.

Plot Keywords:

Germany | Prostitute | Wisconsin | Alcoholic | Pimp

Awards:

1 win

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Bruno S.	...	Der Bruno Stroszek
Eva Mattes	...	Eva
Clemens Scheitz	...	Scheitz
Wilhelm von Homburg	...	Souteneur
Burkhard Driest	...	Souteneur
Clayton Szalpinski	...	Mechanic
Ely Rodriguez	...	Indian mechanic's helper
Alfred Edel	...	Jail headmaster
Scott McKain	...	Scott
Ralph Wade	...	Auctioneer
Michael Gahr	...	Prisoner Hoss
Vaclav Vojta	...	Doctor
Yuecsel Topcuguerler	...	Turk prisoner
Pit Bedewitz	...	Souteneur
Bob Evans	...	Bob Evans

Runtime:

115 min

Country:

West Germany

Language:

English | German

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:G (Québec) | Canada:R (Ontario) | Australia:M | Finland:K-12 | Sweden:15 | West Germany:12 | UK:15 (video rating) (1991) | UK:AA (original rating)

Filming Locations:

Berlin, Germany

Company:

Skellig Edition

Trivia:

The story about the sheets really happened to Bruno; like much of the film, it was shot in a single take (though a section had to be edited out when Bruno passed gas loudly).

Quotes:

[last lines]
Deputy Sheriff: We have a 10-80 out here, a truck on fire, we have a man on the lift. We are unable to find the switch to turn the lift off, can't stop the dancing chickens. Send an electrician, we're standing by.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Control (2007)

The Glory of America

This film provides Americans the opportunity to see what the USA looks like through a foreigner's eyes. It's no picnic, according to Herzog. Even more, the title characteris played by Bruno S., a certified schizophrenic that Herzog befriended. His acting style is nothing of the kind and adds a sense of honest bewilderment to the roles he has played. This story is the antithesis of the Horation Alger "American Dream" story. It is bizarre and moving in spite of itself. Herzog hits upon one of the greatest endings to any film attempting to sum up the character of the US: it takes place at a roadside carnival of sorts, that features the antics of trained animals, who dance and play the piano on command (not nearly as impressive as it sounds, just like America).