Nirgendwo in Afrika (2001)

A German Jewish refugee family moves to and adjusts to a farm life in 1930s Kenya.

Director:

Caroline Link

Writers:

Caroline Link, Stefanie Zweig (novel)

Stars:

Juliane Köhler, Merab Ninidze, Matthias Habich

Won 1 Oscar. Another 18 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Juliane Köhler	...	Jettel Redlich
Merab Ninidze	...	Walter Redlich
Sidede Onyulo	...	Owuor
Matthias Habich	...	Walter Süßkind
Lea Kurka	...	Regina Redlich (younger)
Karoline Eckertz	...	Regina Redlich - Older
Gerd Heinz	...	Max
Hildegard Schmahl	...	Ina
Maritta Horwarth	...	Liesel
Regine Zimmermann	...	Käthe
Gabrielle Odinis	...	Dienstmädchen Klara
Bettina Redlich	...	Mrs. Sadler
Julia Leidl	...	Inge
Mechthild Großmann	...	Elsa Konrad
Joel Wajsberg	...	Hubert

Storyline

A Jewish family in Germany emigrate short before the Second World War. They move to Kenya to start running a farm, but not all members of the family come to an arrangement with their new life. Shortly after their departure, things are changing in Germany very quickly, and a turning back seems impossible. So everyone has to arrange himself with the new life in a new continent.

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Plot Keywords:

farm | kenya | jew | tween girl | teenage girl | 

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Taglines:

One family's tale of a homeland lost... and a homeland found.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some sexual content

Details

Official Sites:

Constantin Film [Germany] NZZ Online (German)

Country:

Germany

Language:

English Swahili German

Release Date:

16 May 2003 (USA)

Also Known As:

Nowhere in Africa

Filming Locations:

Germany

Box Office

Budget:

€7,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$716,496 (Germany), 28 December 2001

Opening Weekend USA:

$22,070, 9 March 2003, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$6,173,485, 5 October 2003

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$17,873,182, 6 November 2003

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bavaria Film,Bavaria Filmverleih- und Produktions GmbH,Bayerischer Banken-Fonds

Technical Specs

Runtime:

141 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

After giving the radio to Walter, Susskind wishes him good luck with the well; as he drives away, the reflection of the camera truck can be seen on the door of his truck, and the tire tracks from the camera truck are visible as the camera backs up.

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Quotes

Walter Redlich: I'm proud to be an idealist because it shows that I believe in mankind. That may sound naive but every other belief will lead to destruction.

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Connections

Featured in Auge in Auge - Eine deutsche Filmgeschichte (2008)

User Reviews

Simply wonderful!

What a great movie! I really don't know what to praise first: The great acting, the music or the cinematography, everything is really done more than very well! Fortunately the tribal life in rural Kenia is neither glorified as the only and true way of living, nor is it shown with the arrogance of the civilized. Like Regina the audience will soon become a friend of Owuor, the lovely cook of the family. There are enough problems shown in this movie and the Redlichs have to deal with the death of their relatives who stayed in Germany, with more than one crisis in their marriage and several other things. Other directors would have turned this movie into a terrible tear-jerker, but Caroline Link tells the story with such a warm humor, it's really great. Although this movie also shows the beauty of Africa it depicts Kenia in a realistic way. There are enough other movies about Kenia that are full of sunsets and elephants, showing Africa like a postcard - this is not one of them. And nevertheless I wanted to go there right after watching it. If you loved "Jenseits der Stille", you'll also love this movie.