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: [Young Thomas sees Melanie walking through the park. He runs from the football game to catch her up. She is reading an American comic book] What's that - can I see it ?
[she passes the comic to him, he flicks through the pages in awe]
Melanie: Hans Schaffer sent it to me. He swapped a pack of cigarettes for it with an American prisoner he caught.
Thomas: [flicking through the pages] This is fantastic! Can I borrow it ?
Melanie: [she takes the comic back] No, but you may have it - so long as you have something to swap for it...
[...]

User Reviews

Cruelties of War

In 1944, the fourteen years old teenager Thomas (Tom Schilling) 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 (Bernadette Heerwagen) 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 (Ed Stoppard) 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 (Michelle Gayle), who gives him the strength of joy.

"Joy Division" is a movie with an engaging and very cruel drama of war, and a confused spy story in times of Cold War. If the story was limited to the impressive situation of the survivors of the Russian invasion, it would be excellent. But the part of espionage never works and is a complete mess. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "Regras da Guerra" ("Rules of the War")