Die Reise nach Kafiristan (2001)

Directors:

Donatello Dubini
Fosco Dubini

Writers:

Donatello Dubini (writer)
Fosco Dubini (writer)

Release Date:

7 November 2002 (Netherlands)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

In 1939, the author Annemarie Schwarzenbach and the ethnologist Ella Maillart travel together by car to Kabul...

Plot Keywords:

Journey | Literature | Female Nudity | Lesbian | Afghanistan

Cast

Jeanette Hain	...	Annemarie Schwarzenbach
Nina Petri	...	Ella Maillart
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Monika Arnó	...	Dame auf dem Schiff
Vassilios Avgouteas	...	Barkeeper
Jochen Baumert	...	Deutscher 1
Senta Bonneval	...	Dame 2
Christine Buck	...	Dame 3
Matthew Burton	...	Joseph Hackin
André Dahms	...	Barkeeper
Christoph Frass	...	Diener
Len Haddad	...	Frau an der Reeling
Carlheinz Heitmann	...	Deutscher Botschafter
Rania Kurdi	...	Ria Hackin
Thomas Morris	...	Deutscher 2
Madeen Mustafa	...	Zahlmeister
Wolf Pahlke	...	Kapitän
Joachim Polex	...	Herr 2
Wolfgang Rau	...	Bibiothekar
Helene Ruthmann	...	Dame 1
Hebrahin Schischani	...	Peter
Katharina Schütz	...	Ärztin
Othamann Shamayleh	...	Türkischer Grenzbeamter
Anika Unterburg	...	Helferin
Christof Wackernagel	...	Engländer
Oliver Weichmann	...	Helfer

Also Known As:

The Journey to Kafiristan (International: English title)

Runtime:

101 min | Argentina:106 min (Mar del Plata Film Festival) | Japan:105 min

Country:

Germany

Language:

German

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Germany:12 | USA:Unrated

Filming Locations:

Bukhara, Uzbekistan

Company:

Dubini Filmproduktion

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Kinomagazin: In der Wüste - Dreharbeiten zu 'Die Reise nach Kafiristan'" (2000)

A Masterpiece

All the reviews I read before seeing this were maddeningly vague as if the writers were trying desperately not to commit themselves. I can't see their problem, 'Journey to Kafiristan' is an outstanding film with two excellent performances from the leads; the cinematography is jawdroppingly good with the landscapes, interiors and close-ups all adding to the poignancy of the narrative; the music is astonishingly unobtrusive yet contributes to the mood and pace of the film. At the centre there is the performance of Jeanette Hain whose extraordinarily expressive face adds so much to the pathos of the situation. I can only guess that the reason this film did not catapult Ms Hain to international prominence is the 'stigma' of the lesbian character as with Patricia Charbonneau after 'Desert Hearts' or Gina Gershon after 'Bound' and 'Showgirls'. Jeanette Hain should be one of the world's most successful actors and directors should sit up and take note! Commercially the labelling of films seems inevitable as target audiences are identified for marketing purposes; but it can serve to reduce the potential audience. 'Journey to Kafiristan' is billed as a 'Lesbian Interest' film but it is much more, it deals with the rise of feminism in Europe in the inter-war period. Both lead characters have transparently fake marriages for convention's sake and exist outside the norm while still using their married status to protect them in dangerous situations. If you're looking for GIRL-ON-GIRL action you would be better off looking elsewhere for while this is a love story it is cerebral and emotional rather than carnal.I cannot praise 'Journey to Kafiristan' highly enough.