Herr Lehmann (2003)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Leander Haußmann

Writers:

Sven Regener (novel)
Sven Regener (screenplay)

Release Date:

2 October 2003 (Germany)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

Bis denn, dann...

Plot:

In October 1989, the part of the West Berlin borough of Kreuzberg called SO 36, had been largely shut...

Plot Keywords:

Best Friend | Artist | Bar Keeper | Depression | Sculpture

Awards:

4 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Christian Ulmen	...	Herr Lehmann
Detlev Buck	...	Karl
Katja Danowski	...	Katrin
Janek Rieke	...	Kristall-Rainer
Annika Kuhl	...	Heidi
Hartmut Lange	...	Erwin
Martin Olbertz	...	Marco
Uwe Dag Berlin	...	Jürgen (as Uwe-Dag Berlin)
Michael Beck	...	Klaus
Michael Gwisdek	...	Der Trinker
Stephan Baumecker	...	Kiffer
Tim Fischer	...	Sylvio
Karsten Speck	...	Die Lederuschi
Margit Bendokat	...	Mutter Lehmann
Johann Adam Oest	...	Vater Lehmann (as Adam Oest)
Sven Martinek	...	Streifenpolizist
Bernhard Schütz	...	Gebissener Streifenpolizist
Thomas Brussig	...	DDR-Zöllner, Verhör
Sven Markholz	...	DDR Zöllner, Protokoll
Fabian Oscar Wien	...	Rudi
Heidi Züger	...	Karls Freundin
Christoph Waltz	...	Arzt
Uwe Meyer	...	Pförtner
Steffi Kühnert	...	Trinkerin aus dem 'Elefanten'
Pepe Danquart	...	Walter vom 'Elefanten'
Ümit Inaler	...	Imbissbesitzer
Thorsten Ranft	...	Ost-Jürgen (as Torsten Ranft)
Otto	...	Der Hund

Directed by
Leander Haußmann

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Sven Regener		novel
Sven Regener		screenplay

Produced by
Claus Boje	....	producer
Jens Meyer	....	executive producer
Sonja Schmitt	....	executive producer

Cinematography by
Frank Griebe

Film Editing by
Peter R. Adam

Casting by
Simone Bär

Production Design by
Thomas Stammer

Art Direction by
Astrid Poeschke

Costume Design by
Nina von Mechow

Makeup Department
Gregor Eckstein	....	special makeup effects artist
Heike Merker	....	makeup artist
Heike Merker	....	makeup designer
Jekaterina Oertel	....	makeup artist
Jekaterina Oertel	....	makeup designer

Production Management
Mark Nolting	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Margarethe Heitmüller	....	first assistant director
Tonja Schürmann	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Susanne Abel	....	prop buyer
Sabine Engelberg	....	art department assistant
Eckart Friz	....	stand-by property master
Björn Holzhausen	....	property master
Sabine Schöbel	....	production design assistant
Torsten Schwartz	....	supervisor plasterer
Marco Pressler	....	construction manager (uncredited)

Sound Department
Jacob Ilgner	....	second boom operator
Jochen Isfort	....	first boom operator
Erik Mischijew	....	sound designer
Matz Müller	....	sound designer
Matz Müller	....	sound editor
Andreas Musolff	....	foley editor
Thomas Neumann	....	sound designer
Thomas Neumann	....	sound editor
Wolfgang Schukrafft	....	sound
Philipp Sellier	....	foley recordist
Martin Steyer	....	sound re-recording mixer
Christoph Ulbich	....	adr recordist

Special Effects by
Karl-Heinz Bochnig	....	special effects supervisor
Björn Friese	....	special effects technician
Stefan Knauer	....	special effects technician
Endres Löber	....	special effects
Volker Lorig	....	special effects technician
Christoph von Lengerke	....	special effects foreman

Visual Effects by
Ante Dekovic	....	digital artist
Manfred Kraemer	....	lead 3D artist
Natalie Maximova	....	visual effects
Moritz Peters	....	digital artist
Andreas Schellenberg	....	visual effects supervisor
Bastian Schreitling	....	digital artist

Stunts
Jason Oettle	....	key stunt rigger
Jason Oettle	....	stunts
Rainer Werner	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Christian Almesberger	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Christian Almesberger	....	first assistant camera
Harry Groepler	....	rigging gaffer
Oliver Haas	....	lighting best boy
Wolfgang Jahnke	....	still photographer
Nicole Nullmeyer	....	second assistant camera
Helmut Prein	....	gaffer
Jürgen Ruge	....	daily electrician
Matthias Scholz	....	camera loader

Casting Department
Kirstin Plotz	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Nicole Dinges	....	wardrobe supervisor
Najad Kirchberger	....	costume assistant
Najad Kirchberger	....	wardrobe

Editorial Department
Beatrice Festerling	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Charlotte Goltermann	....	music conception

Transportation Department
Teodor Ardeleanu	....	production driver

Other crew
Thomas Duchnicki	....	location scout
Michael Foertsch	....	caterer
Sylke Nitz	....	cashier
Daniel Schwarz	....	location manager

Production Companies

• Boje Buck Produktion

Distributors

• Beta Film (2003) (worldwide) (all media) (sales)
• Delphi Filmverleih Produktion (2003) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• Filmcoopi Zürich (2003) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Filmladen (2003) (Austria) (theatrical)

Special Effects

• KC Effects

Also Known As:

Berlin Blues (Europe: English title)
Der freundliche Herr Lehmann (Germany) (working title)

Runtime:

Germany:105 min | Argentina:105 min

Country:

Germany

Language:

German

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Germany:12 (bw) | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Alexanderplatz, Mitte, Berlin, Germany

Company:

Boje Buck Produktion

Trivia:

Andre Schneider was considered for the role that finally went to Tim Fischer.

Goofs:

Continuity: The position of the dog in the whisky scene changes without visible moving of the dog.

Movie Connections:

References Sonnenallee (1999)

Soundtrack:

Oder beides

one of the best German movies of 2003

I definitely recommend this one to people interested in German movies.

It is a very simple story of a waiter working in a 'beer pub', but nicely told and filled with warmth which the actors carry. Hard to imagine that Christian Ulmen used to be a MTV moderator before starting acting, and Detlev Buck is so great in this one!

Want to see a 'different' movie on West/East-Germany? Then, go try it! While you might not get anything of the power of 'La Vita E Bella' or 'Amores Perros', it is a nice little comedy and gives good insights on how people in the catering branche did work before the 'Mauerfall' (wall fell)..