Joy Division (2006)

A teenage orphan fights against the Red Army at the end of WWII and in the aftermath is 'adopted' by a Commissar. Years later he is sent to London during the Cold war to work for the KGB, where he questions his life.

Director:

Reg Traviss

Writers:

Rosemary Mason (additional writer), Reg Traviss

Stars:

Ed Stoppard, Tom Schilling, Bernadette Heerwagen

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ed Stoppard	...	Thomas (older)
Tom Schilling	...	Thomas (younger)
Bernadette Heerwagen	...	Melanie
Bernard Hill	...	Dennis
Lea Mornar	...	Astrid
Michelle Gayle	...	Yvonne
Sean Chapman	...	Harris
Sybille Gebhardt	...	Stephanie
Bernard Kay	...	Bothringaye
Suzanne von Borsody	...	Mother
Ricci Harnett	...	Sgt Harry Stone
Levente Törköly	...	Soviet Captain
Marlon Kittel	...	Max
Dietrich Hollinderbäumer	...	Grandpa
Gyula Benedek	...	Krivosheyev

Storyline

In 1944, 14-year-old Thomas is convoked to fight in the German Army. He survives, but his town is destroyed, his family dies in a bombing and his sweetheart Melanie is raped and murdered by the Russian Army. A Commissar brings the orphan Thomas to Soviet Union, and he is sent to the military school. Years later, Thomas becomes an agent of KGB and in 1962, during the Cold War, he is assigned to work in London. Living with ghosts from the past in constant fear and paranoia, he meets the black Londoner Yvonne, who gives him the strength of joy.

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Plot Keywords:

tank | cold war | military | german army | soviet union | 

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Taglines:

The past is a place you cannot escape

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Genres:

Drama | War

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site

Country:

UK Germany Hungary

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 November 2006 (UK)

Also Known As:

Der Agent - Zwischen gut und böse

Filming Locations:

England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$6,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Dreamtool Entertainment, Hungarian Film Connection, IMS 5 LLP

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Quotes

Thomas: [Thomas and Dennis have their final meeting] Before I left for England I was briefed about a man called Steiner?
Dennis: Albert Steiner. Steiner wasn't a conspirator or a revolutionary - just a lonely defector; the lowest form of currency in this war. I don't know whether he's alive or dead, but as long as his fate remains unknown -the concept of 'Steinerism' is a threat! The enemy within which both sides crave!
[shrugs]
Dennis: Maybe that makes me an 'agent of Steiner'.

User Reviews

clumsy

clumsy and heavy handed...I wanted more London and less flashback and the narrative just doesn't work. The rape scenes are really unnecessary and add nothing to the story. Less telling and more showing would have helped this movie. The more I watched the more I fast forwarded through the WW2 scenes (which is weird for me) and shot to the spy / intrigue elements. Funnily enough though after the movie and I had gone our separate ways I still enjoyed the redeeming features, namely, the concepts tackled in the movie - loyalty, the past, control and freedom. Hey who thought to the put the SAME surf rock song in the girlfriend London scenes? Whacky...