Der Tunnel (2001)

Director:

Roland Suso Richter

Writer:

Johannes W. Betz (writer)

Release Date:

21 January 2001 (Germany)

Genre:

Action | Drama | History | Thriller

Tagline:

Berlin. 1961. The true story of a flight to freedom.

Plot:

Based on a true story a group of East Berliners escaping to the West. Harry Melchior was a champion...

Plot Keywords:

Escape | Tunnel | False Passport | Digging | Landslide

Awards:

9 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Heino Ferch	...	Harry Melchior
Nicolette Krebitz	...	Friederike 'Fritzi' Scholz
Sebastian Koch	...	Matthis Hiller
Alexandra Maria Lara	...	Lotte Lohmann
Claudia Michelsen	...	Carola Hiller
Felix Eitner	...	Fred von Klausnitz
Mehmet Kurtulus	...	Vittorio Castanza
Heinrich Schmieder	...	Theo Lohmann
Uwe Kockisch	...	Oberst Krüger
Karin Baal	...	Marianne von Krausnitz
Dorothea Moritz	...	Hermine
Wolf-Dietrich Sprenger	...	Fotograf Grüner
Florian Panzner	...	Heiner
Sarah Kubel	...	Ina Lohmann
Ruth Glöss	...	Mutter Fritzi

Also Known As:

The Tunnel (International: English title)
The Tunnel: The Movie (Australia)

Runtime:

150 min | Canada:157 min | France:157 min | Germany:188 min (2 parts) | USA:167 min (theatrical version)

Country:

Germany

Language:

German

Color:

Color | Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Singapore:M18 | Australia:M | Canada:14A | Germany:12 | Spain:T

Filming Locations:

Berlin, Germany

Company:

Sat.1

Movie Connections:

References Escape from East Berlin (1962)

Almost 3 hours, but doesn't feel like it

What a great movie! It's a very well made adventure flick that has the added advantage of being true.

I agree with the IMDb reviewer who said Heino Ferch, who plays the central character Harry Melchior, was a lot like Bruce Willis. I found the similarities profound.

And I thoroughly disagree with the New York Times reviewer (click on the EXTERNAL REVIEWS link to read it), who wrote: "They are joined by numerous volunteers hoping to rescue their own friends and family, and by the eager Fritzi (Nicolette Krebitz), whose solitary feminine presence complicates the team's relationships."

I don't know what movie that reviewer saw, but it wasn't this one. What a stupid remark, apropos of nothing, making it sound like a romantic triangle or quadrangle develops. There is nothing of the kind. In fact, Fritzi is a great female role model. When she first volunteers and the men wonder what sort of contribution she'll be able to make, she says, "I may look different from you when I'm naked, but I can work just as hard." Then she jumps into the tunnel and starts digging. Right on, sister.

I don't remember much about Germany before the Berlin Wall came down, beyond cinematic references to "Checkpoint Charlie" and the Brandenburg Gate and news reports I was too young to understand. But this movie really brings the horrors -- psychological as well as physical -- to life.

Another film that explores similar territory, psychological as well as physical, is The Lives of Others. Interestingly, the German actor Sebastian Koch has high profile roles in both films.