Führer Ex (2002)

Director:

Winfried Bonengel

Writers:

Winfried Bonengel (writer)
Douglas Graham (writer)

Release Date:

5 December 2002 (Germany)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Gewalt. Gefühl. Gefangen. (Violence. Feeling. Being caught.)

Plot Keywords:

Nude Fight Scene | German Reunification | Shower Scene | Locker Room | Tattoo

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Aaron Hildebrand	...	Tommy (as Aaron Tristan Hildebrand)
Christian Blümel	...	Heiko Degner
Jule Flierl	...	Beate
Detlef Kapplusch	...	ABV Arndt
Marco Schulz	...	Volkspolizist
Luci Van Org	...	Elisabeth Degner
Dennis Grabosch	...	Olaf
Max Richter	...	Psycho
Steffen Haja	...	Helmuth
Jasmin Aksan	...	Margit
Jürgen Hölzel	...	1. Kneipengast
Eugen Albert	...	2. Kneipengast
Tino Floß	...	1. Wärter
Werner Sperling	...	2. Wärter
Dieter Laser	...	Eduard Kellermann

Also Known As:

Führer Ex (Italy) (Venice film festival title)
Fuhrer Ex (International: English title)

Runtime:

Canada:105 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Country:

Germany | Italy

Language:

German

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Italy:T | Germany:12 | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Berlin, Germany

Company:

Next Film

Soundtrack:

Auferstanden aus Ruinen

A Study of the Effects of Changing Political Ideologies on Two Friends

Führer Ex is a challenging, harsh, and intensely involving tale of the course of friendship of two young lads living in the 'prison' of Communist East Germany in 1986. Based on fact (Ingo Hasselbach's book 'Die Abrechnng' adapted for the screen by Douglas Graham and director Winfried Bonengel), this story relates the changes that occur in the close friendship of two boys torn by the confinement of the East German Communists vs the Western freedom of West Germany and the countries not under Communist control. It informs us about that transition with the fall of the Berlin wall and the subsequent adjustment to the new form of life East Germans found beyond the crumbled wall.

Heiko (Christian Blümel) is fair-haired, virginal, nice guy who longs for adventure (and more) with his idolized friend Tommy (Aaron Hildebrand), an edgy guy unafraid to get into a bit of trouble (Tommy is arrested for a minor crime and is released from jail shaved and tattooed). The two dream of escaping their rigid lives and fleeing to Australia. Tommy talks Heiko into running the risk of actual escape and together they break through the wires and walls that confine them but are apprehended in their attempt and sentenced to prison in a cruel Communist prison where they are separated, Tommy joining a 'neo-nazi' group and Heiko falling under the 'protection' of a fellow prisoner who eventually rapes him. The two finally are able to talk and plan a mutual escape, hopefully placing themselves in boxes to be transported to freedom. Tommy succeeds; Heiko doesn't and remains in prison.

Flash forward to 1989 and the Berlin wall is down. Tommy is living a comfortable life in the new Berlin and encounters Heiko in a true Neo-Nazi meeting that Heiko is leading. The tables have turned - Heiko is the miscreant and Tommy is the good guy. Convinced that Tommy is a traitor to the ideals of Heiko's political interests, Heiko surfaces all of the hate that brewed in prison and is focused on unjust governments. An event occurs that alters their friendship and Heiko is forced to see that varying political climes and convictions pale in the value of treasured friends.

The film is well paced and the acting is excellent. There are gaps in the script storyline that result in some confusion for the viewer, but the overall impact of the 'biopic' nature of the movie is powerful and deserves attention. It is particularly fitting that this film comes out of Germany, as though it may be a purging of sorts over the initial division of East vs West Berlin. And forgetting about the political aspects of the story, this is a powerful document on the importance of commitment to long-term friends. Recommended. Grady Harp