Revanche (2008)

Director:

Götz Spielmann

Writer:

Götz Spielmann (screenplay)

Release Date:

16 May 2008 (Austria)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

Whose fault is it if life doesn't go your way? [US release]

Plot:

Ex-con Alex plans to flee to the South with his girl after a robbery. But something terrible happens and revenge seems inevitable.

Plot Keywords:

Policeman | Farm | Bank | Robbery | Shower

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 11 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Johannes Krisch	...	Alex
Irina Potapenko	...	Tamara
Andreas Lust	...	Robert
Ursula Strauss	...	Susanne
Johannes Thanheiser	...	Grandfather Hausner (as Hannes Thanheiser)
Hanno Pöschl	...	Konecny - Tamara's Boss
Magdalena Kropiunig	...	Prostitute in Hotel
Toni Slama	...	Tamara's Customer
Elisabetha Pejcinoska	...	Cinderella Prostitute #1
Aniko Bärkanyi	...	Cinderella Prostitute #2
Annamaria Haytö	...	Cinderella Prostitute #3
Nicoletta Prokes	...	Cinderella Prostitute #4
Rainer Gradischnig	...	Harry - Man Beating Tamara
Haris Bilajbegovic	...	Man stopping Harry
Aleksander Reljic-Bohigas	...	Owner of Cinderella
Michael-Joachim Heiss	...	Day Porter at Hotel
Günther Laha	...	Night Porter at Hotel
Max Schmiedl	...	Police Officer #1
Gerhard Liebmann Holzmann	...	Police Officer #2
Johannes Zeiler	...	Police Officer #3
Andreas Blauensteiner	...	Police Officer #4
Martin Aschauer	...	Police Officer #5
Sonja Lehninger	...	Police Officer #6
Peter Brunner	...	Trainer at Shooting Range
Thomas Radleff	...	Police Detective
Alexander Lhotzky	...	Bank Branch Manager
Doris Hindinger	...	Bank Employee #1
Siegfried Auerböck	...	Bank Employee #2
German Benedikt	...	Bank Employee #3
Renate Suppan	...	Bank Customer Service #1
Johann Wessner	...	Bank Customer Service #2
Julia Schranz	...	Pregnant Wife
Jana McKinnon	...	Girl at Grill Party
Peter Josch	...	Robert's Father
Linde Prelog	...	Robert's Mother

Directed by
Götz Spielmann

Writing credits
Götz Spielmann		(screenplay)

Produced by
Sandra Bohle	....	producer
Mathias Forberg	....	producer
Götz Spielmann	....	producer
Heinz Stussak	....	producer

Cinematography by
Martin Gschlacht

Film Editing by
Karina Ressler

Casting by
Rita Waszilovics

Production Design by
Maria Gruber

Costume Design by
Monika Buttinger

Makeup Department
Susanne Weichesmiller	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Stephanie Wagner	....	production manager

Art Department
Sebastian Thanheiser	....	prop master

Sound Department
Bernhard Bamberger	....	supervising sound editor
Max Bauer	....	foley artist
Normann Büttner	....	foley recordist
Heinz Ebner	....	sound
Alexander Koller	....	sound re-recording mixer
Alexandra Löwy	....	sound editor

Camera and Electrical Department
Riccardo Brunner	....	steadicam operator
Gerald Kerkletz	....	lighting technician
Thomas Maier	....	Steadicam operator
Werner Stibitz	....	lighting technician
Nino Volpe	....	first assistant camera

Editorial Department
Willi Willinger	....	colorist

Music Department
Walter W. Cikan	....	music supervisor

Other crew
Alex Schlacher	....	production assistant

Production Companies

• Prisma Film
• Spielmannfilm

Distributors

• Alfa Films (2010) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Amstelfilm (2009) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Continental Film (2009) (Slovenia) (theatrical)
• Janus Films (2009) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Janus Films (2009) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Mozinet (2010) (Hungary) (theatrical)
• Art Servis (2009) (Yugoslavia) (all media)
• Arthaus (2009) (Norway) (all media)
• Artificial Eye (2009) (UK) (all media)
• Artplex Attica (2008) (Greece) (all media)
• Cineworx (2008) (Switzerland) (all media)
• Criterion Collection, The (2010) (Canada) (DVD)
• Criterion Collection, The (2010) (USA) (DVD)
• Fandango (2009) (Italy) (all media)
• Filmfreak Distributie (2010) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Filmladen (2009) (Austria) (all media)
• Laptv (2010) (Argentina) (TV)
• MK2 Diffusion (2009) (France) (all media)
• Movienet (2008) (Germany) (all media)
• New Star (2009) (Greece) (all media)
• Rialto Distribution (2009) (Australia) (all media)
• Rialto Entertainment (2009) (New Zealand) (all media)
• SBS Television (2009) (Australia) (TV)
• Vadi Van Kris (2009) (Bulgaria) (all media)

Other Companies

• Filmfonds Wien  funding
• LISTO Videofilm  post-production (laboratory) (digital intermediate) (film recording) (digital cinema mastering)
• Match Factory, The  sales agency

Also Known As:

Runtime:

121 min | Austria:117 min (DVD edition)

Country:

Austria

Language:

German | Russian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | Dolby (Synchro Film, Austria)

Certification:

Norway:15 | Hong Kong:III (Hong Kong International Film Festival) | Germany:12 | Australia:MA | Netherlands:9 | Argentina:16 | New Zealand:R18 | South Korea:18 | USA:Not Rated | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Austria

Company:

Prisma Film

Trivia:

This film has no soundtrack.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Willkommen Österreich: Episode #1.62" (2009)

A fantastic portrayal of different worlds that should be seen by all

I saw Revanche last night at the Sydney film festival and aside from the out of focus image and at one point the movie reel stopping mid-film it was an amazing experience.

Eastern Europe is captured so beautifully. A seemingly quiet and simple countryside (reminiscent of 'blue velvets' suburbia) is contrasted amazingly to the usual city stereotype of brothels, human trafficking and crime.

The director (Gotz Spielman) lingers on certain images that at first, seem to be just for aesthetic purposes but as the film continues; the alleyways, the park benches etc are all extremely significant to the main character (Johannes Kirsch) journey.

The centerpiece in this film though, is definitely the characters. The main character Alex (Johannes Kirsch) is commanding in the lead. Although he is incredibly unlikeable, you cant look away and eventually begin to sympathize with him. By the end of the film you see an amazing evolution.

The wife, the prostitute and the grandfather all are amazing as well. The wife (andreas lust) has some brilliant dialogue in particular and she is just so interesting. I found her to be very real with flaws and temptations that we can all relate to (even if we wont admit it).

There was some action. There was some comedy. The ending was SENSATIONAL. I didn't know which direction it was being taken and became a little impatient but as the screen went black (intentionally, not reel fault) I was incredibly satisfied.

See this movie. It was great.