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:

determination | professional sportsman | alps | mountain | cyclist | 

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Genres:

Documentary | Sport

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Certificate:

Not Rated

User Reviews

An excellent insight into professional cycling

'Höllentour' for me is regarded as the best cycling movie of the last five years, which gives an authentic insight into the real-life of professional cyclists during the 'Tour de France', the most outstanding bike-race in the world. The protagonists Aldag & Zabel do not really act, instead they just do what pros are used to do during extreme race situations with its ups and downs- they fall down and stand up again, which has a very motivating effect(perhaps a successful further development of method acting). From the very beginning of the movie both convince by their natural and sympathetic manner. For the audience it is definitely worth to get an intimate insight into the work of a professional cyclist. Danquart succeeds in transporting aesthetic pictures and combines them with a superb soundtrack. Some scenes, e.g. the prologue in Paris, are so motivating just by the power of their pictures. Even non-cyclists really enjoyed the film, since it does not demonstrate special secrets for insiders, but convinces with a fascinating composition of narrative means,e.g. editing, music, flashbacks and 'actors', who play their own role authentically.

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