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Possession (1981) 7.1
During a secretive business trip away, Mark learns that his wife Anna is growing restless in what he believed was their happy marriage. Upon his return home, he learns from her that she ... See full summary » Director:Andrzej Zulawski |
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Title: Possession (1981)
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Isabelle Adjani | ... |
Anna /
Helen
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| Sam Neill | ... |
Mark
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Margit Carstensen | ... |
Margit Gluckmeister
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Heinz Bennent | ... |
Heinrich
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Johanna Hofer | ... |
Heinrich's mother
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Carl Duering | ... |
Detective
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| Shaun Lawton | ... |
Zimmermann
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Michael Hogben | ... |
Bob
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Maximilian Rüthlein | ... |
Man with pink socks
(as Maximilian Ruethlein)
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Thomas Frey | ... |
Pink sock's acolyte
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Leslie Malton | ... |
Sara, woman with club foot
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Gerd Neubert | ... |
Subway drunk
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Kerstin Wohlfahrt |
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Ilse Bahrs |
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Karin Mumm |
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Plot Summary
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Storyline
During a secretive business trip away, Mark learns that his wife Anna is growing restless in what he believed was their happy marriage. Upon his return home, he learns from her that she wants a divorce. They both go through a series of different emotions related to their situation, Mark's which is generally obsessive about learning why Anna, who he still loves, wants the divorce, and Anna's which is generally increasingly histrionic in getting away from Mark. Caught in the middle is their infant son Bob, who Mark uses as a gage to Anna's mental state. Anna states that her want for the divorce is not because of another man, but Mark finds out that Anna has a lover named Heinrich. In the meantime, Mark also meets Bob's teacher Helen, who looks exactly like Anna, but is her polar opposite in temperament. Starting a relationship with Helen lessens his obsession with Anna. But as Mark and Anna's encounters together reach more emotional and violent levels, Mark, with help of a private ... Written by Huggo
Taglines:
Murder. Evil. Infidelity. Madness. See more »Parents Guide:
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Details
Language:
EnglishRelease Date:
27 May 1981 (France) See more »Also Known As:
The Night the Screaming Stops See more »Filming Locations:
Berlin, GermanyCompany Credits
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IMDbPro »
I'm not very good at plot synopsis, and I very rarely write reviews, but this film could quite possibly be a distant cousin to David Lynchs 'Eraserhead', in that it involves a marriage gone wrong, a (perhaps) mutant baby, infidelity, and so much more that is felt emotionally rather than explained and read into.
It contains the most OTT, eccentric, and brilliant performances I've ever seen, and you can't say that about many films, where the performances are unique and different. There's serious acting, hammy acting, B movie acting, serious/Oscar winning acting, comical acting, silent film acting, but never any acting like you have seen in this film. And I guess you could include David Lynch acting, as thats pretty unique too. And of course method acting.
Its like watching a theatrical play in cinematic form on acid. A lot of acid.
I showed this to my friend who has the darkest possible taste in films I've ever known, owns over a thousand dvds, and even he was blown away by the sheer chaos, resonant imagery, beautifully swift camera work and photography, and of course, the performances. Most notably Isabella Adjani who manages to be sexy and scary as hell at the same time. Her performance in this is monumental, especially the often noted 'underground menstruation' scene which could induce some viewers to a panic attack. I certainly nearly had one when I watched the film for the first time.
When a character has a breakdown in this film (both of the leads) its a REAL breakdown. And boy, do you ever feel it. Its realistic yet surreal. God knows how the director managed to coax these types of performances out of his actors. He must of drugged them or hypnotized them or something. He certainly didn't just yell 'action'.
The way the scenes are cut together is highly unusual and unconventional but it makes absolute perfect sense. I don't know how, it just does. I'm unfamiliar with the directors other work but if its even half as good as this I'll order everything I can get of his.
Recommended to any open minded individual who likes films that draw attention to themselves with an utter sense of uniqueness.