IMDb >
Tuvalu (1999)
Watch It
Buy it at Amazon
Rent it at Blockbuster.com
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
BETA
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotesOverview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv scheduleAwards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage boardPlot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotesFun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQOther Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDeskPromotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo galleryExternal Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsTuvalu (1999) More at IMDbPro »
| Videos |
Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
22 June 2000 (Germany) moreTagline:
Eine Reise in die Welt der TräumePlot:
In a desolate and colorless landscape stands a dilapidated bathhouse run by a puffed-up blind man, his long-suffering wife... more | add synopsisAwards:
25 wins & 9 nominations moreNewsDesk:
(3 articles)
DVD Of The Week: Absurdistan (From GreenCine Daily. 20 August 2009, 11:01 AM, PDT)
Husbands and Wives
(From IFC. 18 August 2009, 7:10 AM, PDT)
User Comments:
Drab colours, annoying characters... call me crazy but I liked it more (23 total)Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Denis Lavant | ... | Anton | |
| Chulpan Khamatova | ... | Eva (as Chulpan Hamatova) | |
| Philippe Clay | ... | Karl | |
| Terrence Gillespie | ... | Gregor | |
| Catalina Murgea | ... | Martha | |
| E.J. Callahan | ... | Inspector | |
| Djoko Rosic | ... | Gustav (as Djoko Rossich) | |
| Zlatina Todeva | ... | Old Woman | |
| Todor Georgiev | ... | Policeman | |
| Georgi Kishkilov | ... | Homeless | |
| Petar Evangelatov | ... | Homeless | |
| Evgeni Jermanov | ... | Homeless | |
| Blajo Nikolic | ... | Homeless | |
| Krikor Hugasjan | ... | Homeless (as Krikor Hugasian) | |
| Alexander Dikov | ... | Homeless |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parentsRuntime:
101 min | Argentina:107 min | Canada:100 min | Japan:92 min | Taiwan:107 minCountry:
GermanyLanguage:
NoneAspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 moreSound Mix:
Dolby DigitalCertification:
South Korea:12 | Argentina:Atp | Finland:S | France:U | Germany:o.Al. (bw) | Hong Kong:IIAFun Stuff
Soundtrack:
Mocking Song moreFAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (23 total)
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Tuvalu (1999)Recommendations
If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
Show more recommendations
|
|
|
|
|
| Once Upon a Time in the Midlands | Enchanted | Body Double | L'âge d'or | The Saddest Music in the World |
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| News articles | IMDb Comedy section | IMDb Germany section |
| Add this title to MyMovies |


This is one of the weirder movies out there. But I can't say it's original, because Jeunet & Caro pioneered this exact style 18 years earlier in "Le Bunker de la dernière rafale" (1981). This is so much of a rip-off that I wonder if the director was deliberately making an homage to "Le Bunker", right down to the weird woman's chewing gum collection (except in "Bunker" it was boogers. yeah, yuck).
Also, let's get something out of the way in case you don't know it already: this is basically a black & white, silent film. So you need to have a good attention span. It also has some of the ugliest actors I've ever seen. So don't expect to instantly fall in love with any of the characters, the way we do with Johnny Depp or the Hollywood prettyboys. Instead we see a lot of wrinkly guys in need of a good orthodontist. Welcome to European cinema.
If I haven't scared you off yet, then maybe there's hope. Now let's get to the good part. Even though the plot is simple, it's a very challenging & fun film to watch. Because there's very little dialogue (mostly grunts, a few shouts and oh yes, the most hilarious line ever: "TECHNOLOGY... SYSTEM... PROFIT!"), you're forced to work your brain to understand even the simplest situations. In that respect, it reminds me of those emergency cards you read on airplanes. You know, the goofy cartoon icons without any words which are supposed to explain how to save your life in the event of cabin depressurization. It's all so retro.
Some of the gags are classic, and you may be reminded of some old Charlie Chaplin material.
And even though I said it's black & white, there are some downright magical colour tints which give it a dreamy feel. In one particular blue-tinted shot, we see a graveyard of half-sunken ships. I couldn't think of a better way of showing it--all the colours in the world couldn't express it better. Imagine if "Metropolis" (1927) had been re-done with seamless camera-work, cranes & dollies, and a very convincing set. That should give you an indication of the visual style.
Really the only reason why I'm rating this a 7 instead of a 9 is because it lost points for lack of originality (Jeunet/Caro rip-off). But that shouldn't diminish its effectiveness as a work of art, especially to those of you who haven't seen "Le Bunker de la dernière rafale" or "Delicatessen". In any case, it's definitely worth the rental fee.