Lautlos (2004)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Mennan Yapo

Writers:

Mennan Yapo (story) and
Lars-Olaf Beier (screenplay)

Release Date:

29 April 2004 (Germany)

Genre:

Crime | Romance | Thriller

Plot:

Viktor, a methodical hit man, probably on his last job, has no plan for his retirement. He does not kill Nina...

Plot Keywords:

Attempted Suicide | Police | Older Man Younger Woman Relationship | Falling In Love | Opposites Attract

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

Joachim Król	...	Viktor
Nadja Uhl	...	Nina
Christian Berkel	...	Lang
Rudolf Martin	...	Der junge Polizist
Lisa Martinek	...	Die Ermittlerin
Peter Fitz	...	Martin Hinrich
Wilhelm Manske	...	Der Russe
Gertraud Jesserer	...	Grundschullehrerin
Mehmet Kurtulus	...	Sicherheitschef des Russen
Murat Yilmaz	...	Killer des Russen
Jale Arikan	...	Freundin des Russen
Kevin Ruhland	...	Felix
Robinson Reichel	...	Observierer Kamera
Werner Karle Jr.	...	Observierer Ton (as Werner Karle jun.)
Antonio Di Mauro	...	Polizist in Ninas Wohnung (as Antonio Dimauro)

Also Known As:

Soundless (USA) (DVD title)

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

Germany

Language:

German

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Munich, Bavaria, Germany

Company:

Artist & Repertoire Filmproduction

Trivia:

The first school day photo is a real youth photo of Joachim Król.

Soundtrack:

Ah! Non Credea Mirarti

A Dark, Tense, Atmospheric German Thriller

LAUTLOS (Soundless) is yet another film by Director/writer Mennan Yapo (with writing assists form Lars-Olaf Beier) that takes on a story of a hit man on his last job and makes it into a fine psychological thriller. The cinematography, lighting, music and pacing of this strangely dark film provide an excellent background for a superb cast of actors.

Viktor (Joachim Król) is an aging hit man, a perfectionist whose reputation as a genius killer includes the fact that he works so well that he is soundless in his paid executions. We are privy to his mind's working as he focuses on his last hit, a man with a lady in his room Nina (the very beautiful Nadja Uhl) whose life he spares in the hit, an act of emotional response to the beautiful woman but an act that causes his employer to set a mark on him for his failure. Viktor saves Nina from suicide and the two become enchanted with each other. Viktor has found love at the end of his career as a murderer: Nina wants to get to know Viktor better before committing to his advances. Enter the police headed by the brilliant Lang (Christian Berkel) who is determined to capture Viktor by studying his patterns and mind tracings. Viktor and Nina are on the run but with a goal - that they will join at the sea and leave the life of crime. But before this can happen they must go through a literal wall of flames (a touch of Wagner, here). How the cat and mouse chase comes into play and resolves is the satisfying end to this polished little thriller.

Król, Uhl, and Berkel (in addition to a fine supporting cast) make this tense drama intimate and penetrating and Yapo's direction keeps the pace breathless. This is a fine little thriller in German with English subtitles. Grady Harp