Hell on Wheels (2004)

A look behind the scenes of the toughest cycling race in the world on the occasion of the 100the anniversary of the Tour de France.

Directors:

Pepe Danquart, Werner Schweizer (co-director) (as Werner 'Swiss' Schweizer)

Writer:

Pepe Danquart

Stars:

Erik Zabel, Rolf Aldag, Dieter Ruthenberg

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview:
Erik Zabel	...	Self
Rolf Aldag	...	Self
Andreas Klöden	...	Self
Alexander Vinokurov	...	Self
Steve Zampieri	...	Self
Dieter Ruthenberg	...	Self (as 'Eule' Dieter Ruthenberg)
Mario Kummer	...	Self
Serge Laget	...	Self

Storyline

Every year, the legendary Tour de France race and its participants capture the hearts and minds of a million onlookers all over the world. In Höllentour, Oscar winning filmmaker Pepe Danquart and co-director Werner Schweizer take a behind-the-scenes ride with the T-Mobile team 2003, whose courage and perseverance make for nail-biting action. Shot on the race's 100th anniversary, the film also tells of the event's fascinating history, how it grew from simple origins to the money-maker of today. Searching for the truth behind the spectacle, the film takes an emotional roller coaster with some of the world's elite athletes as they persist through injury, victory and pain.

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Plot Keywords:

german | professional athlete | determination | alps | mountain | 

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Genres:

Documentary | Sport

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Certificate:

Not Rated

User Reviews

For cycling fans only

I am not a cycling fan, and I would not have gone to see this film if I had not won the tickets.

Now, having seen it, I would still rather have won tickets for any another one because this documentary is not nearly as enthralling for people like me as it would for somebody who is a real cycling fan who watches the Tour de France on television every year.

On the other hand, it was not as boring as I expected. Especially the first of the two hours had bizarre and even funny scenes, a weird display of reality that makes some documentaries so interesting, and some of the images of the French landscape and this colourful mass of people cycling through it are really beautiful and sensational.

The whole film has something sensationalistic to it, especially created by the powerful and rather heavy score. Well, I guess this made it at least more entertaining for non-fans like me.

Details

Country:

Germany

Language:

English French German

Release Date:

10 June 2004 (Germany)

Also Known As:

Hell on Wheels

Filming Locations:

Paris, France

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,456,580

Company Credits

Production Co:

A.S.O. Amaury Sport Organisation, ARTE, Dschoint Ventschr Filmproduktion AG

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color Black and White (archive footage)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1