Jerichow (2008)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Christian Petzold

Writer:

Christian Petzold (writer)

Release Date:

8 January 2009 (Germany)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

The dishonorably discharged Afghanistan veteran Thomas returns to his home village of Jerichow. Ali...

Plot Keywords:

Car Crash | Drunkenness | Murder Plot | City Name In Title | Airport

Awards:

3 nominations

Cast

Benno Fürmann	...	Thomas
Nina Hoss	...	Laura
Hilmi Sözer	...	Ali Özkan
André Hennicke	...	Leon (as André M. Hennicke)
Claudia Geisler	...	Sachbearbeiterin
Marie Gruber	...	Kassiererin
Knut Berger	...	Polizist

Runtime:

Argentina:93 min (Buenos Aires Festival Internacional de Cine Independiente) | Canada:93 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Country:

Germany

Language:

German | Turkish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Germany:12 (f) | Argentina:16

Filming Locations:

Ahrenshoop, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany

Company:

ARTE

People Making Some Bad Choices (some really,really bad choices) In Life

Jerichow is a region in a part of East Germany,that faces the North Atlantic. It is also the title of a grim,but well written,directed & acted drama about a love (lust?)triangle. Thomas (a stoic faced Benno Furmann)is one of life's losers,who was in the Army during the war in Afghanistan,who is on the run from being in debt with a business associate. Ali (Hilmi Sozer),a middle aged Turkish immigrant,who owns a chain of snack bars in central Eastern Germany & his beautiful,young wife (Nina Hoss,most easy on the eyes). Despite a somewhat strained friend ship between the three,paranoia & mistrust exist between two of the three parties (especially when Thomas & the wife start an affair). Christian Petzold writes & directs a fine,tart film about three characters,each with a dark side to their character. Besides a passing resemblance to both versions of 'The Postman Always Rings Twice', it may also remind you of films by the late Reiner Werner Fassbinder,Robert Bresson,and others. This is grim,but well intentioned film making from a director who's works are fairly unknown in this country (and let's hope that changes soon). As this is an import,distributed by a small independent studio,it is not rated by the MPAA,but contains pervasive language,sexual situations,nudity & violence (although nothing too gory).