Der Tunnel (2001)

User Rating:

8.0/10   

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 | Champagne | Sex In Kitchen | Germany

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 The Misfits (1961)

It's hard to believe what some people have been through, especially when it has been at the hands of their own government and in such recent years.

In The Tunnel the audience is dragged down to the depths with a group of Germans so desperate to get their loved ones from East Germany in 1961 that they are prepared to dig a tunnel under the infamous Berlin Wall. The tunnel takes a year to dig, is seven metres deep and 145 metres long.

The story of The Tunnel is really the story of Harry Melchior (Heino Ferch), an East German champion swimmer who escapes to the west disguised as a tourist. Before leaving the state which has imprisoned him for four years he promised his sister, Lotte Lohmann (Alexandra Maria Lara) that he would do his best to rescue her from the oppressive regime. Joining him in his noble mission is Matthis Hiller (Sebastian Koch), an engineer with the knowhow if only the rest of the gang will listen to him. He wants to rescue his wife and unborn child. Also on the team is Friederike 'Fritzi' Scholz (Nicolette Krebitz). Her intended is trapped on the other side of the wall, but does she really love him? There is a whole host of other characters who have their own motivations for helping out, but who can be trusted and who is a spy? All the actos put in superb performances, transporting the viewer back to those troubled times. What makes The Tunnel such compelling viewing is not it's high production values and suspenseful story, although it has both in oodles, but the very fact that it is a true story. Directed by Roland Suso Richter and written by Johannes W Betz, The Tunnel is filmed in the original German with English subtitles. But the subject is so enthralling that you soon forget you are having to read each line. While it is three hours long it doesn't even feel it. The Tunnel began its run during the Te Awamutu International Film Festival at The Regent cinema but is to continue showing.