Alois Nebel (2011)

A train dispatcher encounters a mute stranger who appears out of nowhere, and finds himself mysteriously involved with a murder in Poland.

Director:

Tomás Lunák

Writers:

Jaroslav Rudis (concept), Jaromír Svejdík (concept)

Stars:

Miroslav Krobot, Marie Ludvíková, Karel Roden

4 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Miroslav Krobot	...	Alois Nebel
Marie Ludvíková	...	Kveta
Karel Roden	...	Nemý
Leos Noha	...	Wachek
Alois Svehlík	...	Starý Wachek
Tereza Vorísková	...	Dorothe
Ján Sedal	...	Výcepní Sokin
Miloslav Marsálek	...	Strojvudce
Jirí Strébl	...	Ruský Dustojník
Marek Daniel	...	Psychiatr
Klára Melísková	...	Sestricka
Jan Vondrácek	...	Esenbák
Karel Zima	...	Esenbák
Thomas Zielinski	...	Zrízenec
Martin Mysicka	...	Polský Kriminalista

Storyline

Set in 1989 at the end of the Communist era even as the Berlin Wall was falling, a humble train dispatcher who's lived all his life in a small hamlet on the Czech side of the Czech-Polish border has been tormented by disturbing dreams about what happened to his ethnic German babysitter at the end of WW II. At the same time, a strange man of few to no words (is he mute?) in his mid 40s, shows up in the small hamlet with an old photograph and an ax. Much ensues...

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Plot Keywords:

stranger | mute | murder | train dispatcher | train | 

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Genres:

Animation | Drama

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site [cz]

Country:

Czech Republic Germany

Language:

Czech

Release Date:

29 September 2011 (Czech Republic)

Also Known As:

Aloïs Nebel

Filming Locations:

Barrandov Studios, Prague, Czech Republic

Box Office

Budget:

€2,500,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Negativ, Ceská Televize, Pallas Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

84 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Czech Republic's official submission to the Best Foreign Language Film category of the 84th Academy Awards 2012.

User Reviews

tough cookie to crack ?

tough as in this - the events it depicts is very central Europe specific, so not sure if it will convert well to unless for the more curious and exploring minds.

although I admire the director being relatively young and chooses to do this instead of some action video movie. the scenes/shots/drawings are beautifully done - apparently added a layer of gray on top of the original comic of just black and white. Rotoscoped to be exact.

Not just picture, but sound is striking. Storey wise I have not read the original and would like to know what they did or did not leave out. But he pacing, the style of not overly informative - that you have to read/think/digest is what I prefer.

saw this at 2011 tiff. gives me a very strange combination of feelings of grim/guilt/inescapable and yet ephemeral beauty.