The Princess and the Warrior (2000)

Two enamoured strangers look for a warm place in a cold world.

Director:

Tom Tykwer

Writer:

Tom Tykwer

Stars:

Franka Potente, Benno Fürmann, Joachim Król

6 wins & 16 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Franka Potente	...	Sissi
Benno Fürmann	...	Bodo
Joachim Król	...	Walter
Lars Rudolph	...	Steini
Melchior Derouet	...	Otto (as Melchior Beslon)
Ludger Pistor	...	Werner
Christa Fast	...	Sigrun
Susanne Bredehöft	...	Zewil
Gottfried Breitfuss	...	Paul (as Gottfried Breitfuß)
Steffen Scheumann	...	Bruno (as Steffen Schult)
Rolf Dennemann	...	Dieter
Ali Nejat-Nouei	...	Ali
Sybille J. Schedwill	...	Maria (as Sybille Jacqueline Schedwill)
Peter Ender	...	Thomas
Friederike Frerichs	...	Corinna

Storyline

Young nurse Sissi lives a secluded life, seemingly entirely devoted to her patients at Birkenhof asylum. Her first encounter with ex-soldier and drifter Bodo has a lasting impact. He causes an accident that results in her lying under a truck, unable to breathe. While he provides life-saving first aid, mesmerized Sissi begins to wonder whether he may be the man of her dreams. But when she tracks him down weeks later her affection is rejected, as Bodo is stuck somewhere between a traumatic past and a criminal future.

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Plot Keywords:

nurse uniform | nurse outfit | caucasian | female nurse | aerial camera shot | 

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Taglines:

Irgendwo da draußen wartet die Liebe

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for disturbing images, language and some sexual content

Did You Know?

Trivia

The literal translation of the German title is "The Warrior and the Empress". The name of the main female character, "Sissi", refers to the nickname of Elisabeth, Empress of Austria and Queen of Hungary (1837-1898). There are several movies and television shows about the Empress Elisabeth, some with "Sissi' in the title.

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Goofs

When Bodo leaps from the bathtub to chase Steini down the hall, Bodo clearly has not taken time to dry off. He should have left at least some trace of wet footprints down the hallway as he runs after Steini, but there is not a trace of wet footprints or any other water left on the floor as he runs. (It's possible that for safety reasons they ensured the actor's feet were dry before having him run on the tiled hallway, so as to avoid a slip-and-fall scenario.)

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Quotes

Bodo Riemer: [laying on bead, Sissi has just sniffed him] What are you doing?
Simone 'Sissi' Schmidt: You smell good.
Bodo Riemer: What planet do you come from anyway?
Simone 'Sissi' Schmidt: This one. I was born here.
Bodo Riemer: In the nuthouse? What about your parent's?
Simone 'Sissi' Schmidt: My mother died, a hairdryer fell in the tub. My father is out there.
Bodo Riemer: What do you mean?
[she motions to the mental patients outside]
Bodo Riemer: One of the loonies?

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Alternate Versions

A scene from the German version is missing in the U.S. one: Towards the end, instead of just leaving the "old Bodo" behind, we see him encountering a bus driven by Walter and then the two driving off together.

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Connections

References One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)

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Soundtracks

I'm Sorry
Performed by Brenda Lee
Music/Lyrics: Ronnie Self, Dub Allbritten

User Reviews

I´m missing the words...

There´s Bodo. There´s Sissy. They don´t know each other. A accident happens. Bodo rescues Sissy´s life. Then he disappears. She tries to find him. Will they have a chance?

Sometimes it´s hard to find words to describe a movie. It´s an unusual love story, a melodramatic thriller, that is sometimes disturbing, too - especially the scenes in the psychiatry, where Sissy works as a nurse - and with hypnotizing music (which sometimes reminds you of "Lola rennt" and "Winterschläfer"). Director Tom Tykwer shows again that he can tell stories with heart and soul. There are characters you really care for. Especially Benno Fürmanns performance touched me deeply. I could really feel the pain he´s going trough. And of course Franka Potente. I was on her side when she was desperately fighting for Bodo´s love.

Probably the best german film this year, I can highly recommend it. Watch and FEEL it!!!

Details

Country:

Germany

Language:

German

Release Date:

12 October 2000 (Germany)

Also Known As:

The Princess & the Warrior

Filming Locations:

North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$51,426, 24 June 2001

Gross USA:

$872,091

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,017,667

Company Credits

Production Co:

X-Filme Creative Pool, Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

135 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1