Der rote Baron (2008)

German biopic loosely based on the World War I fighter ace Manfred Von Richthofen, nicknamed the Red Baron by friend and foe alike.

Director:

Nikolai Müllerschön (as Nikolai Müllerschoen)

Writer:

Nikolai Müllerschön

Stars:

Matthias Schweighöfer, Lena Headey, Til Schweiger

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tomás Koutník	...	Young Manfred von Richthofen
Tomás Ibl	...	Young Lothar von Richthofen
Albert Franc	...	Young Wolfram von Richthofen
Matthias Schweighöfer	...	Manfred von Richthofen
Maxim Mehmet	...	Sternberg
Hanno Koffler	...	Lehmann
Til Schweiger	...	Voss
Richard Krajco	...	Hawker
Joseph Fiennes	...	Brown
Steffen Schroeder	...	Bodenschatz
Lukás Príkazský	...	Kirmaier (as Lukás Príkazký)
Lena Headey	...	Käte
Ondrej Volejník	...	1st German Soldier
Jirí Wohanka	...	2nd German Soldier
Iveta Jirícková	...	Redhead Whore

Storyline

Baron Manfred von Richthofen is the most feared and celebrated pilot of the German air force in World War I. To him and his companions, air combats are events of sporty nature, technical challenge and honorable acting, ignoring the terrible extent of war. But after falling in love with the nurse Käte, Manfred realizes he is only used for propaganda means. Caught between his disgust for the war, and the responsibility for his fighter wing, von Richthofen sets out to fly again.

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Plot Keywords:

loosely based on historical events | pilot | imperial germany | fighter plane | fighter pilot | 

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Taglines:

Heroes Rise. Empires Fall. Legends Endure.

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Biography | Drama | Romance | War

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for war violence, some disturbing images and brief suggestive material

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Germany] (German, English) Official site [Japan]

Country:

Germany UK

Language:

German English French

Release Date:

10 April 2008 (Germany)

Also Known As:

The Red Baron

Filming Locations:

Czech Republic

Box Office

Budget:

€18,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$13,931, 21 March 2010, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$36,569, 11 April 2010

Company Credits

Production Co:

Niama Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min 129 min (long)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Til Schweiger was 42 when he played Werner Voss who didn't even live to be 21.

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Goofs

The British made S.E.5 flown by Lanoe Hawker was not active in 1916 as depicted. It only became operational in March 1917.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Bodenschatz: Are you out of your bloody minds?
Manfred von Richthofen, Sternberg, Voss, Lehmann: [in unison] Yes, sir.
Bodenschatz: You risk the squadron planes to attend an enemy funeral?
Manfred von Richthofen, Sternberg, Voss, Lehmann: [in unison] Yes, sir!

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Connections

References Apocalypse Now (1979)

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Soundtracks

Open Skies
performed by Reamonn
composed by Reamonn
published by b612 publishing / Reamonn Publishing

User Reviews

Worth it - gets better as from the second half

The movie seems a bit slow at first. One wonders if it's going to be a realistic crude harsh war movie, as we have grown accustomed to in the last years, or a romantic poetic depiction of this folk hero/legend.

As one gets into the film, one discovers it's both things. There are several sub themes. The jealousy and competitiveness between brothers, the strong contrasting point of views from how the German pilots lived and saw the war as compared to their infantry mud submerged counterparts, the beauty of the initial sportsmanship displayed by Richthoffen and many other airmen in their practice of war, the love story, and many more.

Perhaps the most appealing to some of us is the gradual turn of things towards the impending tragedy, how the characters seem to express it just in the way they look at each other and how this epic sized hero, well represented by the unknown actor Tomas Koutnik, embraces his fate with a powerlessness and dignity that reflects the whole of humanity's ultimate choices when faced with the certain end: play out the role you've been assigned in this life with dignity.

Congratulations to this director, his craftsmanship, the actors, the staff, and let me not forget specially that wonderful Lena Heady who is very sensual and sublime!