The Runaway (2004)

On a winter day, Walter Dahlman is getting ready for a job interview; he's an unemployed architect in Hamburg. As he leaves his flat with little time to spare, a boy of about eight stops ... See full summary »

Director:

Ulrike Grote

Writer:

Linus Foerster

Stars:

Peter Jordan, Maximilian Werner, Monica Bleibtreu

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 2 wins.

Cast

Cast overview:
Peter Jordan	...	Walter Dahlmann
Maximilian Werner	...	Yuri Rosenbauer
Monica Bleibtreu	...	Frau Hasser
Albert Niehörster	...	Portier
Burghart Klaußner	...	Born
Hermann Lause	...	Benthin
Marion Martienzen	...	Ärztin
Stephan Benson	...	Dr. Reinhardt
Meike Kircher	...	Geliebte Born
Julia Malik	...	Krankenschwester
Markus Biela	...	Dpouble Yuri

Storyline

On a winter day, Walter Dahlman is getting ready for a job interview; he's an unemployed architect in Hamburg. As he leaves his flat with little time to spare, a boy of about eight stops him in the hall and asks for a ride to school. Walter doesn't know the lad, who says he's Yuri. The boy is persistent; Walter, who has only a bicycle, ends up giving Yuri a lift to school. The boy calls him "Daddy," and it's just the beginning of Walter's trials and tribulations. Who is the boy, where is his mother, and why Walter?

---

Plot Keywords:

school | job interview | flat | bicycle | architect | 

---

Genres:

Short

---

Certificate:

TV-G

Details

Country:

Germany

Language:

German

Release Date:

19 November 2005 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Runaway

Company Credits

Production Co:

Filmstudium Universität Hamburg, Hamburger Filmwerkstätten e.V.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

23 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Connections

Featured in 2005 Academy Award Nominated Short Films (2006)

User Reviews

A Sweet Funny Fiilm Turns Mysterious But Rewarding

"The Runaway" (Ausreißer)" seems at first as if it's going to be that tried and true tired story that goes at least as far back as Shirley Temple of the adorable moppet melting the heart of a rigid grump.

But the director Ulrike Grote does get us caught up in the frustrations of the guy having one of those annoying days where everything seems to be going wrong.

The turning point is when Linus Foerster's script has a sudden revelation about the connections between the characters that makes us think we are moving at least into Ruth Rendell mystery territory and maybe into M. Night Shyamalan or Ambrose Bierce twists, but with even more humanity.

The lead actor is key in making us believe how reflections about the collision of his past and present change him. There was some disagreement in the audience about exact concluding plot points and realism vs. magic realism, but any interpretation seemed to satisfy each audience member.

The Hamburg locales are used quite beautifully.

It is very possible that the film's Oscar chances could be hurt by the awful English subtitles that eschew capitalization and punctuation.

I viewed this film as part of a commercial screening of the five Oscar nominated Live Action shorts.