7.8/10
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27 user 22 critic

Le tunnel (2001)

Der Tunnel (original title)
Based on a true story a group of East Berliners escaping to the West. Harry Melchior was a champion East German swimmer at odds with the system under which he has already been imprisoned. ... See full summary »

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11 wins & 2 nominations. See more awards »
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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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Harry Melchior
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Friederike 'Fritzi' Scholz
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Matthis Hiller
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Charlotte 'Lotte' Lohmann
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Carola Langensiep
Felix Eitner ...
Fred von Klausnitz
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Vittorio 'Vic' Castanza
Heinrich Schmieder ...
Theo Lohmann
Uwe Kockisch ...
Oberst Krüger
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Marianne von Krausnitz
Dorothea Moritz ...
Hermine
Wolf-Dietrich Sprenger ...
Fotograf Grüner
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Heiner
Sarah Kubel ...
Ina Lohmann
Ruth Glöss ...
Mutter Fritzi
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Storyline

Based on a true story a group of East Berliners escaping to the West. Harry Melchior was a champion East German swimmer at odds with the system under which he has already been imprisoned. On his own escape, he is determined the arrange the escape to the West of his sister and her family. The idea of the tunnel is born, but the project does not run smoothly. The participants struggle not only with the massive logistics of their task, but betrayal from friends in the East. And always the East German police are close to discovering the plot. Written by johnno <johnno.r@xtra.co.nz

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Taglines:

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


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Details

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Release Date:

7 November 2001 (France)  »

Also Known As:

Le tunnel  »

Filming Locations:

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Box Office

Budget:

$7,100,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,127, 1 May 2005, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$10,890, 12 June 2005
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Company Credits

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Technical Specs

Runtime:

| (2 parts) | (theatrical)

Sound Mix:

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Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
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Did You Know?

Connections

References The Misfits (1961) See more »

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User Reviews

 
Almost 3 hours, but doesn't feel like it
30 July 2007 | by See all my reviews

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.


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