Laschen, a German journalist, travels to the city of Beirut during the fights between Christians and Palestinians to produce an essay about the situation. Together with his photographer, he...
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Title: Circle of Deceit (1981)
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1 win & 3 nominations.
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Bruno Ganz | ... | Georg Laschen | |
| Hanna Schygulla | ... | Ariane Nassar | |
| Jerzy Skolimowski | ... | Hoffmann | |
| Jean Carmet | ... | Rudnik | |
| Gila von Weitershausen | ... | Greta Laschen | |
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Peter Martin Urtel | ... | Berger (as Martin Urtel) |
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John Munro | ... | John |
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Fouad Naim | ... | Excellence Joseph |
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Josette Khalil | ... | Madame Joseph |
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Ghassan Mattar | ... | Ahmed |
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Sarah Salem | ... | Sister Brigitte |
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Rafic Najem | ... | Taxi |
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Magnia Fakhoury | ... | Aicha |
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Jack Diagilaitas | ... | Swedish Journalist |
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Roger Assaf | ... | Phalangist Officer |
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Plot Summary
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Storyline
Laschen, a German journalist, travels to the city of Beirut during the fights between Christians and Palestinians to produce an essay about the situation. Together with his photographer, he meets some important people and discovers the everyday face of the war. He also has to figure out about his home life, where his marriage is in a big crisis. Written by Benjamin Stello
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Ariane Nassar: But he has been baptized!
Sister Brigitte: Yes, we have done everything necessary.
Georg Laschen: Then he's not a heathen.
Ariane Nassar: What sum had you considered?
Sister Brigitte: Whatever you choose to give. The convent really needs help.
Ariane Nassar: A thousand? Two thousand?
Sister Brigitte: Two thousand seems a lot.
Ariane Nassar: Not to me.
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Did You Know?
Trivia
This film was part of a cycle of pictures made during the 1980s that featured journalists covering war. The movies include Salvador (1986), Under Fire (1983), Circle of Deceit [Circle of Deceit (1981)], Witness in the War Zone (1987), Cry Freedom (1987), The Killing Fields (1984) and The Year of Living Dangerously (1982). See more »Quotes
Sister Brigitte: I must tell you, though, if you change your mind, we absolutely will not take him back.Ariane Nassar: But he has been baptized!
Sister Brigitte: Yes, we have done everything necessary.
Georg Laschen: Then he's not a heathen.
Ariane Nassar: What sum had you considered?
Sister Brigitte: Whatever you choose to give. The convent really needs help.
Ariane Nassar: A thousand? Two thousand?
Sister Brigitte: Two thousand seems a lot.
Ariane Nassar: Not to me.
See more »
Crazy Credits
Opening credits run in a single at the bottom of the screen, right to left in the style of a news ticker. See more »Connections
Featured in Sneak Previews: Fantasia/The Kirlean Witness/Diva/Circle of Deceit (1982) See more »Frequently Asked Questions
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Details
Release Date:
28 October 1981 (France) See more »Also Known As:
Circle of Deceit See more »Company Credits
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IMDbPro »
A German reporter Georg Laschen (Bruno Ganz) arrives in Beirut, Lebanon with a photographer Hoffmann (Jerzy Skolimowski), aiming to write an article on the inflammatory situation there. The city has more or less been turned into a huge war zone where bombs and gunfire are ever-present especially during the dark hours of the day. Laschen's own personal motives for accepting such a dangerous job are related to his frustration about his troubled marital situation back in Germany; something he tries to overcome by striking up a relationship with Ariane (Hanna Schygulla), a white woman living in Beirut. Despite witnessing many atrocities, or perhaps because of it, Laschen struggles to achieve an understanding of the motives of the warring parties who both claim to fight for peace and freedom and accuse each other of barbaric acts of terror.
The film was shot on location in Beirut which guarantees a very authentic look to the damaged city. Many of the "action" scenes also look very effective and the sense of danger is well created, even though the main focus is given to psychological things like Laschen's attempts to grasp the situation, not thrilling bomb attacks and firefights. Sometimes the pacing feels a little slow, but the acting is good throughout. Especially the brooding Ganz and the pragmatic Skolimowski play well together, bringing life to their very different characters.
The most notable sentiment present in the film is the complete lack of optimism. The war is portrayed as completely inhumane and unheroic waste of life: the photographs and scenes depicting unspeakable mistreatment of civilians stay in the viewer's mind for a long time. The film doesn't offer a hopeful or positive message on either of its two levels, general or personal – no solution for either the war or Laschen's own anxiety seems possible. "Our only real chance to fight the violence is to not let it start in the first place" is the vibe I'm getting out of the film – an effective piece of cinema.