One Way (2006/II)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Director:

Reto Salimbeni

Writer:

Reto Salimbeni (writer)

Release Date:

25 January 2007 (Germany)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Plot:

To cover up his infidelities and protect his upcoming marriage, a star advertiser helps free an accused rapist by giving a false alibi and suffers the brutal revenge of the victim.

Plot Keywords:

Rapist | Revenge | Anal Rape | Male Nudity | Womanizer

Cast

Til Schweiger	...	Eddie Shneider
Lauren Lee Smith	...	Angelina Sable
Sebastien Roberts	...	Anthony Birk
Stefanie von Pfetten	...	Judy Birk
Michael Clarke Duncan	...	The General
Art Hindle	...	Russel Birk
Sonja Smits	...	Linda Birk
Eric Roberts	...	Nick Swell
Kenneth Welsh	...	Anderson
Ned Bellamy	...	Steve Dwight
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jim Boeven	...	Anthony´s friend
Steve Byers	...	Ricardo
Mark Clifton	...	Priest
Sebastian Gacki	...	Man #3
Angelika Gersdorf	...	Discogast
Sally Gifford	...	Marissa
Briony Glassco	...	Stephanie Mitchell
Natalie Grace	...	Nurse
Sandra Hess	...	Dr.Eveline Sage
Daniel Kash	...	Bert Zikinsky
Katie Keating	...	Young Angelina
Paul Sun-Hyung Lee	...	Hotel Receptionist
Jörg Vincent Malotki	...	Henderson's Assitant
Jason McKinnon	...	Man #1
Elisa Moolecherry	...	Paula York
Mikael Persbrandt	...	Tomas Gaal
Shawn Reynolds	...	Edgar's Assistant
Kim Roberts	...	Norah
Trevor Roberts	...	Man #4
Allan Royal	...	Edgar Rasky
Craig Russell	...	Steve
Victoria Snow	...	Principal
Jennifer Steede	...	Vicky
Stella Stocker	...	Jeremy Stark
Fahri Ogün Yardim	...	Taxi Driver

Also Known As:

Blaze (Germany) (working title)

Runtime:

116 min

Country:

Germany

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Certification:

Argentina:16

Filming Locations:

Cologne, North Rhine - Westphalia, Germany

Company:

barefoot films

Goofs:

Continuity: When the general visits Angelina in the battered women's shelter, she sits down on the windowsill. During their conversation, the curtain behind her changes its position, from hanging correctly to hanging askew to hanging correctly again, between shots.

"One Way" (2006) is an excellent film that you will want to come your way.

From the start of the film, the audience knows that this is going to be a complex, and not a simple who-dun-it. The audience is enlightened by the completely truthful depiction of rape as violent. Beyond lust or sexual molestation, rape is brutal and violent. It is not at all uncommon for the victim to wish the rapist(s), and any accomplices, dead. To survive, the victim must initially fantasize a murder of the perpetrator(s), and holds on to a strong feeling of revenge.

There is the wealth and power of the Birk family, who maintains a 'we against them' philosophy to cover-up any corruption, and to protect each member of the immediate family. A strong matriarch and patriarch holds the family together, no matter what. Somehow, I think the entire family knew about the evil deeds of the son, but protects him anyway, with the help of corporate lawyer with a track record of winning most, if not all, of his cases. The son engages in blackmail, to selfishly hold onto the Birk fortune (he covets wealth, at any cost). Things get so chaotic and heated that, towards the end of the film, the daughter is pitted against the son, even after he is sexually violated (here, one of the victims gets her moments of revenge), and shot to death. But, has justice been served?

I will not give any more details because I do not ruin the excitement and thrills of the film. If you are like me, the film will hold you on the edge of your seat. The film is riveting.

I was disappointed that the film has a rather bittersweet ending. I so much prefer happy endings. But, the film is true to life. Yes, life does have its compensations. Unfortunately, however, there may be some harsh realities and shattered dreams. In the end, do the victims win? And, will the perpetrator(s) be brought to justice? Is there equality and fairness in the judgments made? Does life go on after injustice and rape? Find out the answers, to at least some of these questions, by seeing this very worthwhile film, which really makes you think about the issues surrounding corporate power, cover-ups and corruption, the judicial system, ethics, morality, rape, status and wealth, etcetera.

This film is a must-see, and I rank it a 10 out of 10. The ensemble cast is superb, as is the direction and writing by Reto Salimbeni. The editing is well executed, and the music aptly adds to the film's mystery, suspense and tension--which constantly builds and increases the tautness of the spellbinding thrills of this crime drama. I hope that we will see more of these fine actors, including Eric Roberts.