Mutters Courage (1995)

Director:

Michael Verhoeven

Writers:

George Tabori (story)
Michael Verhoeven

Release Date:

29 February 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | War

Plot:

The deportation of 4000 Jews from Budapest to Auschwitz in July 1944, as told by George Tabori, and how the narrator's mother escaped it...

Plot Keywords:

Auschwitz | Deportation | Jew | Courage | Hungarian

Awards:

3 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

George Tabori	...	Himself
Pauline Collins	...	Elsa Tabori
Ulrich Tukur	...	SS Offizier / SS Officer
Natalie Morse	...	Maria
Robert Giggenbach	...	Cornelius Tabori
Heribert Sasse	...	Kellemen
Günter Bothur	...	Schnauzbart
Simon Verhoeven	...	Junger SS-Mann / Young SS Man
Buddy Elias	...	Rabbi
Peter Radtke	...	Mann im Rollstuhl / Man in Wheel Chair
Otto Grünmandl	...	Julius
Hana Frejková	...	Martha
Jens Harzer	...	Mann im Schlafanzug / Man in Pyjamas
Tatiana Vilhelmová	...	Olga
István Iglódi	...	Usicky
Eddi Arent	...	Klapka
Wolfgang Gasser	...	Agloof
Johanna Mertinz	...	Schaffnerin / Conductor
Jindrich Bonaventura	...	Mann mit Kreide / Man with Chalk
Jirí Knot	...	Deutscher Buchhalter / German Accountant
Stanislav Tríska	...	1. Deutscher Arzt / German Doctor #1
Vladimir Volek	...	2. Deutscher Arzt / German Doctor #2
Jitka Smutná	...	Schwester Liebgart / Nurse Liebgart
Horst Hiemer	...	Deutscher Professor / German Professor
Peter Mohrdieck	...	Glatzkopf / Bald Man (as Peter Mohrdiek)
Axel Scholtz	...	Schlächer / Butcher
Alexandra Millard	...	Elsa als Kind / Elsa as a Child
Jirí Ornest	...	Elsas Vater / Elsa's Father
Petra Berndt	...	Junge Deutsche Schwester / Young German Nurse
Josef Vajnar	...	Der Fremde im Viehwaggon / The Stranger on the Wagon
Eva Holubová	...	Mutter der Zwillinge / Mother of the Twins
Radka Mayerova	...	Junge Hure / Young Hooker
Miroslav Táborský	...	Friseur / Barber
Jaroslav Tesitel	...	Herr Buchbinder
Ondrej Skoch	...	Der junge George Tabori / Young George Tabori
Jaroslava Kretschmerová	...	Die junge Emma / Young Emma
Petr Billy	...	Schuhputzjunge / Shoe-Shine Boy
Liliyan Malkina	...	Woman at Shoe-Shine (as Lilian Malkina)
Petr Janis	...	Mann mit Schutzpass / Man with Red Cross Passport
Mikulas Roth	...	Betender Mann / Praying Man
Darlene Charles	...	Gardrobière / Wardrober
Ladislav Koci	...	Mann, der seinen Koffer sucht / Man Seeking His Luggage
Valérie Kaplanová	...	Blind Woman
Rudolf Stärz	...	Sarkastischer Mann / Sarcastic Man
Stanislav Hajek	...	Mann mit Büchern / Man with Books
Arnost Goldflam	...	Der Jude / The Jew
Marcela Kralova	...	Jewish Wife
Jiri Rajsky-Kastner	...	Polizist / Police Officer
Jana Altmanová		(as Jana Altmannova)
Tomás Boruvka
Istvan Bucsi
Vlado Cerný
Václav Chalupa
Steward Chase
Miroslav Chorvat
Anne H. Frankova
Gabriela Hyrmanová
Dana Jurzova
Jiri Kaftan
Vera Kalendová
Marie Kautska
Josef Kemr
Jirí Klem
Miroslav Kuoz
Vera Koktová
Zdenek Kozák
Nadezda Kreclova
Rudolf Kubík
Frantisek Kuhs		(as Frantisek Kulis)
Vera Kuvierova		(as Vera Kuverova)
Jan Kuzelka
Jirí Kvasnický		(as Jiri Kvasnicka)
Václav Legner
Steva Marsálek
Filip Menzel
Borivoj Navrátil
Aneika Milerska
Alzbeta Milerska
Ivo Novák
Vera Novakova
Jirí Ployhar		(as Jiri Ployhar)
Milena Sajdkova		(as Milena Saudkova)
Christoph Schick
Mirko Schmidt
Olga Schmidtová
Otto Sevcík		(as Oto Sevcik)
Michael Splechta
Aleas Spurny		(as Ales Spurny)
Frantisek Stanek		(as Frantisek D. Stanek)
Gaston Subert
Peter Varga
Gustav Vondracek
Martin Zadcek		(as Martin Zajicek)
Petr Zapletal
Jan Zuska
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Michael Verhoeven	...	Himself (uncredited)

Directed by
Michael Verhoeven

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
George Tabori		story
Michael Verhoeven

Produced by
Veit Heiduschka	....	producer
James Mitchell	....	executive producer
Christine Rothe	....	executive producer
Michael Verhoeven	....	producer
Ann Wingate	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Julian Nott
Simon Verhoeven

Cinematography by
Theo Bierkens
Michael Epp

Film Editing by
David Freeman

Casting by
Michelle Guish
Jessica Horáthová

Production Design by
Lóránt Jávor

Art Direction by
Wolfgang Hundhammer

Set Decoration by
Michal Krska
Martin Kurel
Jiri Zavadil

Costume Design by
Rosemarie Hettmann

Makeup Department
Dana Kohoutova	....	makeup artist
Gerlinde Kunz	....	makeup artist
Vlasta Malerova	....	makeup artist
Paul Schmidt	....	makeup artist
Jiri Simon	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Petr Bilek	....	unit production manager
Inga Gordan	....	unit production manager
Petra Junk	....	executive in charge of production
René Korenar	....	production manager
Volker Messerschmidt	....	post-production manager
Lutz Rabbach	....	production manager: Berlin
Maria Ungor	....	production manager: Budapest
Annie Wallbank	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
István Bucsi	....	assistant director
Marcel Just	....	assistant director
Petr Samec	....	assistant director
Srdjan Simeonovich	....	assistant director (as Srdjan Simeonovic)

Art Department
Sarah Beckmann	....	assistant set decorator
Peter Dürst	....	property master
Claude Garnier	....	assistant set decorator
Jan Klima	....	property master
Vaclav Korselt	....	prop buyer
Jan Kriz	....	props
Michal Krska	....	set dresser
Ludvik Kumpan	....	set constructor
Martin Kurel	....	set dresser
Jiri Macke	....	prop buyer
Karel Moti	....	props
Ales Nenicka	....	props
Andrej Vavrena	....	set constructor (as Andrej Vavrina)
Jiri Zavadil	....	set dresser

Sound Department
Mick Boggis	....	sound re-recording mixer
Pat Brennan	....	assistant sound editor (as Patrick Brennan)
Terry Busby	....	foley editor
Stephan Fandrych	....	dialogue recordist: German version
Archie Ludski	....	supervising adr editor
Simon Manley	....	assistant dialogue editor
Peter Maxwell	....	sound re-recording mixer
Tristan Mullane	....	assistant dialogue editor
Rocky Phelan	....	adr editor
Bob Risk	....	adr editor
Johannes Rommel	....	sound
Peter Tichawsky	....	boom operator
Les Wiggins	....	supervising sound editor
Franziska Zittwitz	....	dubbing editor: German version

Special Effects by
Heinrich Bader	....	mechanical wagon effects (as F. Heinrich Bader)
Rosta Debef	....	special effects
Otto Franke	....	special effects

Stunts
Pavel Cajzl	....	stunts
Zdenek Dvoracek	....	stunts (as Z. Dvoracek)
Martin Engel	....	stunts (as M. Engel)
Antonin Hausknecht	....	stunts (as A. Hausknecht)
B. Jarosova	....	stunts
Ludek Jelen	....	stunts (as L. Jelen)
Jindrich Klaus	....	stunts (as J. Klaus)
Zdenek Krumpl	....	stunts (as Z. Krumpl)
Dimo Liptkovsky	....	stunts (as D. Cipitkovsky)
H. Puchartova	....	stunts
M. Samkova	....	stunts
Frantisek Stupka	....	stunts (as F. Stupka)
Jaroslav Tomsa	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Hagen Bogdanski	....	camera team: second unit
Jan Boruvka	....	rigging gaffer
Jakub Dvorsky	....	clapper loader
Benjamin Epp	....	camera team: second unit
Didier Frateur	....	assistant camera
Bernhard Fuss	....	gaffer (as Bernhard C. Fuss)
Jiri Gazda	....	grip
Jindrich Hanzl	....	grip
Jirí Hanzl	....	still photographer
Jorda Jiricek	....	electrician
Martin Knapp	....	grip
Ludvik Kumpan	....	rigging grip
Ralf Leistl	....	camera team: second unit
Florian Licht	....	camera trainee
Ivan Malý	....	still photographer
Antonin Marik	....	focus puller (as Toni Marik)
Klaus Moderegger	....	camera team: second unit
Tom Morik	....	camera team: second unit
Klaus Niemeier	....	rigger (as Klaus Niemeyer)
Erwin Roodhart	....	gaffer (as Erwin Roodhardt)
Arno Sieberger	....	electrician
Glynn Speeckaert	....	clapper loader
Yves Vandermeeren	....	camera team: second unit
Andrej Vavrena	....	rigging grip
Kaml Zwoniak	....	electrician
Andy Arnautov	....	rigging gaffer (uncredited)

Casting Department
Brendan Donnison	....	voice casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Barbara Glöckner	....	wardrobe
Nada Jiraskova	....	wardrobe
Julius A. Lenke	....	wardrobe
Eva Martincova	....	wardrobe
Beate Morbach	....	wardrobe
Corinna Rüchardt	....	wardrobe
Eva Vacková	....	wardrobe
Helena Vondruskova	....	wardrobe

Editorial Department
Christa Garmeier	....	negative cutter
Ruth Kubalikova	....	third assistant editor
Ingrid Lingenberg	....	color timer
Diane Raabe	....	second assistant editor
Christoph von Schönburg	....	first assistant editor

Music Department
Peter Fuchs	....	music recordist
Dick Lewzey	....	music mixer (as Richard Lewzey)
Nic Raine	....	orchestrator
Paul Talkington	....	musicians contractor
Allan Wilson	....	conductor
Christoph von Schönburg	....	music editor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
J. Blazke	....	driver
I. Fictum	....	driver
P. Kappisek	....	driver
Bohumil Kindl	....	driver (as B. Kindl)
J. Kondon	....	driver
J. Liska	....	driver
M. Mader	....	driver
J. Mazal	....	driver
M. Obermaier	....	driver
B. Sima	....	driver
M. Valenta	....	driver

Other crew
Barbara Bauermeister	....	production office
Jan Bílek	....	production services
Vera Cerhova	....	translator to Hans Verhoeven
Andrea Connor	....	production office
Borivoj Debef	....	technician
Margarete Deiseroth-Gores	....	legal consultant
Claudia Deres	....	production facilities: Budapest, Goess-Fill
Jon Stephen Fink	....	additional dialogue
Endre Flórián	....	production services: Budapest
Tomas Gabris	....	production services (as Tomas Gabriss)
Uwe Gaube	....	dialogue consultant: German version
Simona Gregorini	....	production assistant
Mortiz Greven	....	mot head operator
László Gárdonyi	....	production services: Budapest
Filip Hamza	....	runner
Ruben Hanne	....	set manager
Michael Haussmann	....	script supervisor
Istvan Hegedius	....	production facilities: Budapest, Goess-Film (as Istvan Hegedüs)
Stefan Hornung	....	production assistant
Wolfram Hundhammer	....	production assistant
Petr Jan	....	accountant
Pavel Jelínek	....	translator
Petra Junk	....	accountant
Annette Keane	....	accountant
Johann Kohtz	....	executive in charge
Johanna Kohtz	....	production auditor
Andrea Kriegl	....	historical research
Libuse Krychova	....	translator
Irena Ladyrova	....	accountant
Hugh Linehan	....	production notes
Charles Loxton	....	production assistant
Györgi Marosi	....	production services: Budapest
Lucie Mikova	....	translator
Robin Neusser	....	location manager
Klaus Niemeier	....	revolving stage (as Klaus Niemeyer)
Jochen Nitsch	....	continuity
Jana Novosadova	....	production assistant
Vitek Petrasek	....	caterer
Michaela Povolna	....	production assistant
Ana Radica	....	public relations
Osman Ragheb	....	dialogue consultant
Bettina Ricklefs	....	production executive
Dorothee Specht	....	production coordinator
Alexander Stempel	....	mot head operator
Jiri Stetka	....	technician
Ralph Strachwitz	....	translator (as Ralph Graf Stramitz)
Monika Strelková	....	script
Franziska Striebeck	....	location manager: German version
Viktor Ter-Akopov	....	translator
Jiri Vojtek	....	location manager
Thomas Wallentin	....	legal consultant
Armin Weltersbach	....	legal consultant
Otokar Zivny	....	production assistant
Honza Zuska	....	runner

Production Companies

• Sentana Filmproduktion
• Little Bird
• Wega Film
• Bavaria Film
• Hessischer Rundfunk (HR)
• Sender Freies Berlin (SFB)
• Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR)
• European Co-production Fund
• BBS Films

Distributors

• Kinowelt Filmverleih (1996) (Germany) (theatrical)
• National Center for Jewish Film (NCJF) (1997) (USA) (subtitled)

Special Effects

• Future Effects (blue screen)

Other Companies

• A. Huber & Co  insurance
• ARRI  camera equipment
• ARRI  lighting equipment
• Angels & Bermans  costume provided by
• Bankhaus Maffay & Co., München  financial services
• Barclays Bank PLC  financial services
• Bavaria Bildagentur  archive material courtesy of
• Bavaria Film  dubbing: German version
• Bavaria Film  sound studio: German version
• Bavaria Musik-Studios  music recorded at
• Blow up Filmtechnik Karl Kresling GmbH  titles and opticals
• Bundesministerium des Inneren (BMI)  funding
• Chronos-Film  archive material courtesy of
• Cine Jessy  extras casting
• De Lane Lea Sound Centre  sound re-recorded at
• Eurimages  funding
• Fa. Vogel, Eggenfelden  property
• Film Fundus Walkenhorst GmbH, Berlin  costume provided by
• FilmFernsehFonds Bayern  funding
• Filmförderungsanstalt (FFA)  funding
• Filmförderungsanstalt (FFA)  property
• Filmka  stunts
• Filmmuseum Potsdam  archive material courtesy of
• Franz Kroll & Co.  transports
• Goess-Film  production facilities: Budapest
• ITV Catering  catering
• MAFILM Budapest Filmstúdiói  production services: Budapest
• MAFILM Budapest Filmstúdiói  property
• MAV Noszalgia Kft, Budapest  property
• Military Collection Obernigg, Vienna  costume provided by
• Münchner Symphoniker  orchestra
• One Lingual Sound Studios  sound recording: dialogue
• Progress Film-Verleih  archive material courtesy of
• Rollins Hudig Hall  insurance
• Sandor Zeidler, Budapest  property
• Studio Barandov, Prague  property
• Studios CTS  music mixed at
• Theaterkunst GmbH  costume provided by
• Ullstein Bilderdienst  archive material courtesy of
• Österreichisches Filminstitut  funding

Also Known As:

Runtime:

Germany:93 min | USA:89 min | Argentina:93 min

Country:

Germany | UK | Austria | Ireland

Language:

English | German

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Germany:12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Babelsberg Studios, Berlin, Germany

Company:

Sentana Filmproduktion

Quotes:

[On Elsa's ad-libbed story about a letter of free conduct.]
Hungarian Nazi:Anyone could say that.
SS Officer:She isn't just anyone, this lady.
[to Elsa]
SS Officer:No one is just anyone, right? Every man is someone... You wouldn't lie to me, would you?
Elsa Tabori:No.
SS Officer:You do know what they have to do with you in case you would lie to me?
Elsa Tabori:Yes.
SS Officer:Well, then...
[to his aide]
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Making of 'The Producers' (2002) (V)

Almost Ruined By Its Post Modern Art House Values

As I said in my review of LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL I am not a fan of holocaust movies and find them to be consistently over rewarded at film festivals . I also find them to be a poor subject for a movie for several reasons not least because how can you successfully translate so much human suffering into a movie ? The answer is you can't . But MY MOTHER'S COURAGE ( As it is known in Britain ) is a lot going for it not least because it doesn't go in for a sweeping spectacular scope in order to tell a story . This another problem with the holocaust genre - the narrative often starts before the Second World War with smiling Jewish families , the Nazis invade Eastern Europe ( 1939 in the case of Poland . 1941 in the rest of the region ) the families are deported and the story continues until liberation in 1945 giving little time to concentrate on detail . This movie is different since the main part of the running time revolves around a train journey , and it's little details like toilet facilities on the train that make MY MOTHER'S COURAGE such a human tale of suffering , narrative wise this film doesn't really concern itself with millions upon millions of murders by the Hitler regime over a period of years , it's more concerned with a day in the life of Nazi victims who are going to end up in one of their death camps hence we've got a human story that humanity can relate to more . I also wish to stay something that may possibly make me unpopular and that is the way some of the Nazis are portrayed as being decent human beings . No don't pick me up wrong , I'm not sticking up for Nazism but scene where Elsa sits in the train carriage with the German officer towards the end of the film is unique as is Elsa's monologue towards the officer

Have you worked it out yet ? I found MY MOTHER'S COURAGE beautiful , haunting and touching , far more so than say SCHINDLER'S LIST and yet I have only awarded it four out of ten ! That's because the director Michael Verhoeven has made it into an inaccesible self referential pretentious art house movie of the worst kind . The story starts off with the real life George Tabori ( Son of Elsa ) addressing the audience then walking into a film studio where this production is being made and talking with Verhoeven and the cast . I have no idea what the point of all this is but it fails to work . We also have to endure ridiculous scenes where Tabori walks into the narrative and talks addresses the audience and says " Good morning " to the Nazi guards ! I wouldn't say this totally failed attempt to out do Lars Von Triers in a bizarre post modernist contest totally ruins the movie but it comes very , very close indeed and the story would have worked much better without this ridiculous gimmick