Breathing (2011) Atmen (original title)

Director:

Karl Markovics

Writer:

Karl Markovics (screenplay)

Release Date:

31 August 2012 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Through his work at a morgue, an incarcerated young man trying to build a new life starts to come to terms with the crime he committed. |

Plot Keywords:

Prison | Guilt | Swimming Pool | Funeral Home | Death

Awards:

13 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Thomas Schubert	...	Roman Kogler
Karin Lischka	...	Margit Kogler
Georg Friedrich	...	Rudolf Kienast
Gerhard Liebmann	...	Walter Fakler
Stefan Matousch	...	Gerhard Schorn
Luna Mijovic	...	Mona
Georg Veitl	...	Jürgen Hefor
Klaus Rott	...	Leopold Wesnik
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Johann Bednar	...	Schlossermeister
Michael Duregger	...	Polizist #2
Elena Dörfler	...	Roberta Fakler
Magdalena Kronschläger	...	Junge Frau
Louis Markovics
Reinhold G. Moritz	...	Josef Kallinger
Martin Oberhauser	...	Gefängniswärter #3
David Oberkogler	...	Polizist #1
Robert Putzinger	...	Zugbediensteter
Peter Raffalt	...	Richter
Gabriela Schmoll	...	Haushaltshilfe
Stephanie Taussig	...	Schwiegertochter
Werner Wultsch	...	Mann im Jogginganzug

Directed by
Karl Markovics

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Karl Markovics		screenplay

Produced by
Dieter Pochlatko	....	producer
Nikolaus Wisiak	....	producer

Original Music by
Herbert Tucmandl

Cinematography by
Martin Gschlacht

Film Editing by
Alarich Lenz

Casting by
Nicole Schmied

Costume Design by
Caterina Czepek

Makeup Department
Monika Fischer-Vorauer	....	key makeup artist
Karoline Strobl	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Petra Mayer	....	unit manager
Gregor Schmalix	....	unit manager
Bernhard Schmatz	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Anton Maria Aigner	....	first assistant director
Rainer Vierlinger	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Julia Gmoser	....	assistant production designer
Isidor Wimmer	....	film designer

Sound Department
Thekla Demelius	....	mix assistant
William Franck	....	sound
Nils Kirchhoff	....	dialogue editor
Stephan Michalik	....	boom operator
Philipp Mosser	....	sound designer
Ralph Thiekötter	....	sound re-recording mixer

Camera and Electrical Department
Cedric Dugueperoux	....	electrician
Rainer Fritz	....	digital imaging technician
Robert Stopfer	....	camera "b" operator and steadicam operator

Editorial Department
Reinhard Feichtinger	....	digital intermediate editor
Willi Willinger	....	colorist

Transportation Department
Christian Raberger	....	production driver

Other crew
Loredana Rehekampff	....	production coordinator

Production Companies

• Epo-Film Produktionsgesellschaft
• Cine Styria (support)
• Filmfonds Wien (support)
• Filmstandort Austria (FISA) (support)
• Österreichischer Rundfunk (ORF) (support)
• Österreichisches Filminstitut (support)

Distributors

• Thim Film (2011) (Austria) (theatrical)
• Films Distribution (2011) (worldwide) (theatrical)
• Thim Film (2011) (Germany) (theatrical)
• 24 Bilder Filmagentur (2011) (Germany) (theatrical) (disposition) (for Thim Film)
• ASC Distribution (2012) (France) (theatrical)
• Kino Lorber (2012) (USA) (theatrical)
• Kino Lorber (2012) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Verve Pictures (2012) (UK) (theatrical)

Other Companies

• LISTO Videofilm  post-production (Redcode RAW mastering) (color grading) (film recording) (digital cinema mastering)

Also Known As:

"Atmen" - Austria (original title)

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

Austria

Language:

German | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

UK:15 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | USA:Not Rated

Filming Locations:

Vienna, Austria

Company:

Epo-Film Produktionsgesellschaft

Trivia:

The film was selected as Austria's submission to the 84th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film, but it did not make the final shortlist.

Masterful directorial debut by actor Karl Markovics

Karl Markovics had to work hard to escape his signature role as Stockinger, the funny sidekick in the popular TV show "Kommissar Rex". It took a lot of "serious" theater work and the leading role in Stefan Ruzowitzky's Academy Award winning "Die Fälscher" until he finally got the respect he deserved as an actor. Now Markovics goes on to prove his talents extend beyond just acting: "Atmen" is his debut as a writer and director - and he hits the bull's eye on the first try.

Apparently, Markovics has worked on a lot of script ideas over the years, but never deemed any of them good enough to be developed into a movie. Finally his wife convinced him to go through with one of those ideas, and rightfully so. "Atmen" is an artistic triumph. Not only is the script brilliantly written, but it is also flawlessly executed. The direction seems almost effortless, as if Markovics was already an old master. He seems to know intentionally what to show when, he's got a great eye for frames and unagitated pictures, and, an actor himself, he naturally knows how to direct other actors. That's not to take away from the great cast. Veteran stars like Georg Friedrich and Karl Rott don't disappoint, but the focus lies on Thomas Schubert who says a lot with just facial expressions. Obviousl,y the movie's success depended on Schubert's performance and the first time actor lives up to the task. He's a great talent. Hopefully we'll see more of him in the future.

"Atmen" is a touching and believable movie about life and death, tight-lipped, but never boring, bleak, but in the end optimistic. It's very authentic in its depiction of Vienna, its depiction of a boy who hasn't been dealt the best cards in life. And, most of all, it's got its heart in the right place. This really deserves an Oscar win - much more than "Die Fälscher" did, actually.