Bride of the Wind (2001)

Director:

Bruce Beresford

Writer:

Marilyn Levy

Release Date:

4 January 2002 (South Africa)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Music | Romance

Plot:

This movie is a biopic of Alma Mahler, the wife of composer Gustav Mahler (as well as Walter Gropius and Franz Werfel), and the mistress of Oskar Kokoschka.

Plot Keywords:

Composer | Mistress | Lover | Spa | Death

Cast

Sarah Wynter	...	Alma Mahler
Jonathan Pryce	...	Gustav Mahler
Vincent Perez	...	Oskar Kokoschka
Simon Verhoeven	...	Walter Gropius
Gregor Seberg	...	Franz Werfel
Dagmar Schwarz	...	Anna Sofie Schindler-Moll
Wolfgang Hübsch	...	Carl Moll
August Schmölzer	...	Gustav Klimt
Marion Rottenhofer	...	Berta Zuckerkandl
Sophie Schweighofer	...	Anna Mahler (Age 6)
Johannes Silberschneider	...	Alexander von Zemlinsky
Daniela Dadieu	...	Justine Mahler-Rosé
Brigitte Antonius	...	Frau Kokoschka
Johanna Mertinz	...	Frau Gropius
Erwin Ebenbauer	...	Dr. Alfred Loos
Hans Steunzer	...	Richard Strauss
Franziska Becker	...	Maria Mahler (Age 3)
Sonia Madani	...	Maria Mahler (Age 5)
Katrina Sztachovic	...	Anna Mahler (Age 3)
Michaela Illetschko	...	Anna Mahler (Age 13)
Renée Fleming	...	Frances Alda
Jean-Yves Thibaudet	...	Alda's Accompanist
Peter Gruber	...	Dr. Blumenthal
Doris Pascher	...	Sophie Clemenceau
Robert Herzl	...	Arnold Schönberg
Werner Prinz	...	Archduke Franz Ferdinand
Patricia Hirschbichler	...	Duchess Sophie
Bernhard Bauer	...	Clarinettist
Gordon Catlin	...	Postman
Michael Rast	...	Stefan
Helen Zellweger	...	Helena
Sylvia Haider	...	Flora
Arthur Denberg	...	Kurt
Kathy Marothy	...	Nanny
Marianne Mendt	...	Alma's Maid
Angelika Rossaro	...	Alma's Maid
Heidelinde Theresina	...	Moll's Maid
Merab Ninidze	...	Russian Soldier
Josef Schutzhofer	...	Cavalry Sergeant
Mijou Kovacs	...	Tobelbad Patient
Anita Kolbert	...	Tobelbad Patient
Monika Mandl	...	Klimt's Model
Rich Cowan	...	Mute Waiter
Roby Lakatos	...	Gypsy
Ernest Bango	...	Gypsy
Kálmán Czeki	...	Gypsy
Oszkár Németh	...	Gypsy
László Boni	...	Gypsy
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Babsy Artner	...	Lady
Mathias Kahler	...	Assistant to gustav mahler
Silke Sorenson	...	Lady Godiva (as Silke Schaefer)
Christine Renhardt	...	Dancer (uncredited)

Directed by
Bruce Beresford

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Marilyn Levy

Produced by
Margit Bimler	....	executive producer
Norbert Blecha	....	co-producer
Steven Brown	....	associate producer
Kirt Eftekhar	....	associate producer
Willy Egger	....	line producer: Austria (as Willi Egger)
Jan Fantl	....	co-producer
Gerald Green	....	executive producer
Frank Hübner	....	executive producer
Evzen Kolar	....	producer
Lawrence Levy	....	producer

Original Music by
Stephen Endelman

Cinematography by
Peter James

Film Editing by
Tim Wellburn		(as Timothy Wellburn)

Casting by
Joseph Middleton
Ari Raidel

Production Design by
Herbert Pinter

Art Direction by
Christian Marin

Set Decoration by
Barbara Demmer

Costume Design by
Shuna Harwood

Makeup Department
Rita Alembik	....	hair stylist
Rita Alembik	....	makeup artist
Hilde Busta	....	hair stylist
Hilde Busta	....	makeup artist
Monika Fischer-Vorauer	....	makeup artist
Norma Hill-Patton	....	hair designer
Norma Hill-Patton	....	makeup designer
Danijela Ibricic	....	additional hair stylist
Christine Leuser	....	additional hairstylist
Christine Leuser	....	hair stylist
Christine Leuser	....	makeup artist
Susanne Neidhart	....	hair stylist
Susanne Neidhart	....	makeup artist
Viv Nolguly	....	hair stylist
Viv Nolguly	....	makeup artist
Michaela Oppl	....	hair stylist (as Michaela Oppl)
Michaela Oppl	....	makeup artist (as Michaela Oppl)
Christine Perlinger	....	hair stylist
Christine Perlinger	....	makeup artist
Daniela Skala	....	hair stylist
Daniela Skala	....	makeup artist
C.J. Wills	....	key hair stylist
C.J. Wills	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Doro Geyer	....	production manager: Austria
Mark Harris	....	post-production supervisor
Torsten Leschly	....	post-production manager
Andrea Minauf	....	unit manager
Tom Udell	....	production manager: USA

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Richard Cowan	....	first assistant director
Susanne Nowotny	....	second assistant director
Jeanette Rosenmaier	....	first assistant director: Austria

Art Department
Christa Bannert	....	art department runner
Stefan Diem	....	swing gang
Freddi Dobsak	....	draperies (as Fredi Dobsack)
Gerhard Dohr	....	swing gang
Christian Eder	....	swing gang
Franz Essler	....	swing gang
Bettina Geier	....	draftswoman
Alfred Geigenberger	....	swing gang
Günther Gutermann	....	props supervisor
Ernst Hubmann	....	assistant set decorator
Rudolf Kieger	....	on-set carpenter
Wolfgang Küchler	....	on-set dresser
Fritz Müller	....	second assistant property master
Udo Naglstrasser	....	first assistant property master
Marcin Polak	....	painter
Christian Reiff	....	swing gang
Sigi Sauerschnig	....	property master (as Siegfried Sauerschnig)
Heli Schnöller-Malec	....	painter (as Heli Malek-Schnöller)
Mario Schritter	....	carpenter
Joachim Schwan	....	stand-by props
Gero Schwanberg	....	sculptor
Günther Schäfer	....	painter
Heinz Schön	....	carpenter
Katharina Setzer	....	art department coordinator
Ursula Sova	....	artwork coordinator
Martin Stainer	....	buyer
Stephanie Winkelbauer	....	art researcher
Lorenz Zeiner	....	leadman

Sound Department
Jason Adams	....	sound editor
Jason Adams	....	sound effects editor
Kasper Val Bjerregård Larsen	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Søren Bjerregaard)
Paul Carr	....	adr mixer
Kotzman Cenda	....	assistant sound engineer (as Cinda Rotzmann)
Gary Chester	....	sound mixer
Gary Chester	....	sound recordist
Wave Denmark	....	post-production sound facility
Walter Fiklocki	....	production sound mixer
Petter Fladeby	....	sound re-recording mixer
Mads Heldtberg	....	assistant sound mixer
Svenn Jakobsen	....	foley editor
Svenn Jakobsen	....	foley mixer
Peter Kostl	....	boom operator
Jan Lindvik	....	foley artist
Gerard Loret	....	first assistant sound editor
Dennis McTaggart	....	dialogue editor
Dennis McTaggart	....	sound editor
Herbert Prasch	....	playback operator
Sandra Roth	....	foley editor
Axel Traun	....	boom operator
Nick Watson	....	sound consultant: Dolby

Special Effects by
Karl-Heinz Bochnig	....	special effects foreman
Norman Ernst	....	second special effects assistant
Peter Orthmaier	....	third special effects assistant
Christoph von Lengerke	....	first special effects assistant (as Christoph von Lenggerke)

Visual Effects by
Matt Butcher	....	Flame artist
Colin Kinnear	....	engineer
Eric Person	....	digital effects
Paul Round	....	Inferno artist

Stunts
Josef Schützenhofer	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Dan Auerbach	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Peter Czucka	....	key grip
Guido Egger	....	dolly grip
Markos Filta	....	clapper loader: "c" camera
Andre Fleuren	....	camera operator
Silian Gauss	....	rigging grip
Philipp Graham	....	best boy lighting
Gernot Grondinger	....	clapper loader
Matthias Heissl	....	clapper loader: "c" camera
David Jerrett	....	lighting technician
Bernd Roger Karolyi	....	gaffer
Robert Kolar	....	video playback operator
Aliki Kopanakis	....	assistant Steadicam operator
Gerhard Lehner	....	focus puller: "b" camera
Thomas Maier	....	Steadicam operator
Robert Mladenovic	....	electrician
Stanley Newton	....	still photographer
Andreas Pölzl	....	second assistant camera
Gottfried Schmelzer	....	clapper loader
Ivan Siljic	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Harald Staudach	....	focus puller
Judith Stehlik	....	focus puller: "c" camera
Michael Thoma	....	rigging electrician
Tamás Ujvári	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Fritz Wessely	....	best boy rigger

Casting Department
Romana Figemann	....	extras casting assistant
Sylvia Figemann	....	extras casting
Richard Whobrey	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Elisabeth Dobsa	....	costume assistant
Christine Ertl	....	set costumer
Brigitte Fink	....	costume assistant
Suzy Freeman	....	assistant costume designer
Waltraut Freitag	....	wardrobe supervisor (as Waltraud Freitag)
Martina King	....	seamstress
Brigitte Kortmann	....	seamstress
Hans Georg Struhar	....	costume supervisor
Hans Georg Struhar	....	key set costumer

Editorial Department
Marcus Alexander	....	second assistant editor
Steve Harrow	....	post-production consultant
Gerlof Kamerling	....	dailies colorist
Laurie McDowell	....	first assistant editor: UK
Khalid Mohammed	....	post-production coordinator (as Mohammed Khalid)
Margit Wiltschko	....	first assistant editor: Austria
Donald Freeman	....	final colorist (uncredited)

Music Department
Pavel Cizek	....	music contractor
Stephen Endelman	....	musical director (as Stephan Endelman)
Christopher Kennedy	....	music editor
Sonny Kompanek	....	additional orchestrator
Pavel Pranil	....	concert master
Pavel Pranil	....	orchestra contractor
Frantisek Preisler	....	conductor
Jean-Yves Thibaudet	....	musician: piano

Transportation Department
Günter Ciboch	....	driver: cast
Andreas Djerdjev	....	driver: set dressing
Ulrich Gamisch	....	driver: motorhome
Winfried Heber	....	driver: motorhome
Max Reisinger	....	transportation coordinator
Philipp Schrems	....	driver: Mr. Beresford
Martin Trillsam	....	driver: props
Peter Voracek	....	driver: make-up trailer
Helmut Winkler	....	wardrobe driver

Other crew
Madeleine Ali	....	production executive: Total Film Group
Josef Brandmaier	....	film finance representative
Thomas Caspersen	....	engineer
Lynda M. Clarke	....	business affairs: USA
Shelley Crawford	....	script supervisor
Svenja Deininger	....	trainee
Brendan Donnison	....	crowd adr
Martin Eichberger	....	office production assistant
Jacob Groll	....	set production assistant
Margaritha Gruber	....	food consultant
Andreas Handl	....	trainee
Roman Haschberger	....	assistant location manager
Roman Haschberger	....	assistant production coordinator
Paul Hofer	....	production assistant
Kim Hail Jorgensen	....	maintenance engineer
Petra Kaltenbrunner	....	dialogue coach: Sarah Wynter
Pavlos Katsioupis	....	film finance representative (as Dr. Pavlos Katsioupis)
Andreas Kispert	....	set manager
Karl Lang	....	animal trainer
Matt Lawford	....	shortfall insurance
Helga Leb	....	payroll clerk
Rainer Leb	....	production accountant: Austria
Gunnar Leitgeb	....	set production assistant (as Gunnar Leitger)
Samia Mainz	....	assistant: Mr. Hübner
Bruce Mandes	....	controller: Total Film Group
Erick M. Medina	....	production insurance
Leon Morgan	....	business affairs: UK
Norman Patocka	....	location manager
Peter Pölzl	....	trainee
Marco Reisinger	....	trainee
Johannes Reiter	....	location scout
Scott Rogers	....	production coordinator: USA
Robert Rooney	....	unit publicist
Jeff Sanderson	....	unit publicist
Patricia Schweers	....	assistant: Mr. Beresford
Sheryl Sirmons	....	production accountant: Austria (as Sherry Trexler)
Anja Stadelmann	....	production coordinator: Austria
Sarah Stuart	....	post-production accountant
Rodelia Udell	....	accounting clerk (as Ogie Udell)
Anders Weber	....	coordinator: Denmark
Claudia Wohlgenannt	....	office production assistant

Production Companies

• Alma UK Limited
• ApolloMedia Distribution (as ApolloMedia)
• Firelight Films
• Kolar-Levy Productions
• Terra Film Produktion
• Total Film Group

Distributors

• Paramount Classics (2001) (USA) (theatrical)
• RDV Distribution (2004) (France) (theatrical)
• Paramount Classics (Canada)

Other Companies

• Bayerische HypoVereinsbank AG München  gap financing
• F. Grud Stunt Horses  stunts and horses
• Fatts  post-production script services
• Hans & Alfred Paul  carriages
• Pepper Post Production  video mastering
• Praun Locations  locations agency
• Steeple Post Production Services  post-production consulting
• Synchro Film & Video  post-production facilities
• The Bratislava Philharmonic Orchestra  orchestra
• Traditions Dragoner Regiment 3  Austrian cavalry
• Wave Denmark  post-production sound facilities

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for sexuality and nudity

Runtime:

USA:99 min

Country:

UK | Germany | Austria

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R | Canada:A (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Vienna, Austria

Company:

Alma UK Limited

Soundtrack:

Rückert-Lieder: No. 5, Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen

Pretty but incredibly shallow

Bride of the Wind could have been great, it was an interesting subject and I love music-biographical dramas when they're good. Bride of the Wind was a big disappointment. Sure, it is beautifully shot and looks gorgeous from a colour and production value perspective. The music, mostly from Mahler, is every bit as wonderful, and Jonathan Pryce and particularly Vincent Perez are very good. Unfortunately Sarah Wynter's Alma is devoid of any sensuality, nuances or life, it's a complete blank of a performance that only succeeds in making Alma shallow and thoroughly unlikeable. Simon Verhoeven suffers from being completely under-utilised and underwritten so he can't do anything with his character, who is just there with no depth and nothing to make him distinguishable. But that is the case with all the characters actually, excepting perhaps Gustav Mahler, they are written with no substance- you can safely say that they are literally sketched over- and at no point do you engage with them. The script is completely lifeless and full to the brim with stilted dialogue, while the story is not just dull but too often steps through its content so after the film ended things happen but with hardly anything explaining them. There are also some ridiculously misconceived plot-strands, the one with Alma and Oskar being the main culprit. All in all, looks beautiful with two good performances and wonderful music, but shallow and dull that makes you hate Alma intensely. 4/10 Bethany Cox