Free Rainer
- 2007
- 2h 10m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
4.7K
YOUR RATING
Frustrated, because he is forced to produce bad TV-shows, a manager of a TV-station, enters the station and manipulates the ratings, to initiate a TV-revolution.Frustrated, because he is forced to produce bad TV-shows, a manager of a TV-station, enters the station and manipulates the ratings, to initiate a TV-revolution.Frustrated, because he is forced to produce bad TV-shows, a manager of a TV-station, enters the station and manipulates the ratings, to initiate a TV-revolution.
- Director
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- Stars
- Awards
- 2 wins & 4 nominations total
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Featured reviews
10imdb1-34
I don't get where all these jealous people come from who are writing those bad comments... First of all, this is not a comedy, it's a drama about the modern television, how it manipulates us and our lives.
The actors, as in DIE FETTEN JAHRE SIND VORBEI are very well casted and do a pretty good job here, especially Bleibtreu. The photography is manily realistic and in a documentary style and so is the acting. Some might think that its a bit overdosed showing the TV-producers doing nothing else than sniffing coke and being assholes but those who work in the business will recognize most of it.
I really enjoyed watching the movie, even if it could have been a bit shorter and to the point. There are not many directors in Germany which are brave enough to write such explosive stuff!
The actors, as in DIE FETTEN JAHRE SIND VORBEI are very well casted and do a pretty good job here, especially Bleibtreu. The photography is manily realistic and in a documentary style and so is the acting. Some might think that its a bit overdosed showing the TV-producers doing nothing else than sniffing coke and being assholes but those who work in the business will recognize most of it.
I really enjoyed watching the movie, even if it could have been a bit shorter and to the point. There are not many directors in Germany which are brave enough to write such explosive stuff!
Hans Weingartner's third movie is a harsh but highly legitimate comment on today's television program.
Unlike in "Die Fetten Jahre sind vorbei" you could find many things to criticize here - while the comparison to that last movie can hardly be avoided. Much of "Free Rainer" has obviously been inspired by the same concepts, which could make you question how much inspiration there was behind this movie at all. You will find many points that leave a rather ambivalent impression concerning realism - the ending has to be called "fantasy like". At few points does the movie really convince with its' optimistic idea of how the characters and the whole scenario develops.
So what makes "Free Rainer" worth watching? Simple as often: It's the message behind all of this - which can only be understood as a comment on today's world of television. And as for this comment: There has since long not been said anything more important in a movie! Weingartner's portrait of a sick and sickening life standard drawn by the TV world is very close to reality. The rather negative way in which the TV executives appear might even be called too optimistic - while in the movie they seem just to be immoral and very well knowing what they do, reality might look somewhat worse: Most of the people in charge are probably acting in accordance to their very own moral principles.
One critic wrote "Weingartner's movie is a crude comment on an even cruder television". Very right!
Unlike in "Die Fetten Jahre sind vorbei" you could find many things to criticize here - while the comparison to that last movie can hardly be avoided. Much of "Free Rainer" has obviously been inspired by the same concepts, which could make you question how much inspiration there was behind this movie at all. You will find many points that leave a rather ambivalent impression concerning realism - the ending has to be called "fantasy like". At few points does the movie really convince with its' optimistic idea of how the characters and the whole scenario develops.
So what makes "Free Rainer" worth watching? Simple as often: It's the message behind all of this - which can only be understood as a comment on today's world of television. And as for this comment: There has since long not been said anything more important in a movie! Weingartner's portrait of a sick and sickening life standard drawn by the TV world is very close to reality. The rather negative way in which the TV executives appear might even be called too optimistic - while in the movie they seem just to be immoral and very well knowing what they do, reality might look somewhat worse: Most of the people in charge are probably acting in accordance to their very own moral principles.
One critic wrote "Weingartner's movie is a crude comment on an even cruder television". Very right!
A nice stab at what we get on our TVs. Apart from the commercials (and the fact that they cut movies in Germany to show them) it's the main reason I don't watch any TV anymore. "Reality" TV shows and other stuff have taken over. So the movie is still and will be relevant. Shouldn't it have impacted a lot more though and make people think about what they watch?
I don't think so and I don't really agree with where the movie goes towards the end. It takes the edge of a bit for me. Of course this only being a movie and only wanting to entertain is one thing. But I would have liked if it stayed as cynical as it started off. There are some phrases thrown in, that could spark discussions though (what was there first: bad programming or the viewers?). But again I don't agree with the answers the movie provides.
I don't think so and I don't really agree with where the movie goes towards the end. It takes the edge of a bit for me. Of course this only being a movie and only wanting to entertain is one thing. But I would have liked if it stayed as cynical as it started off. There are some phrases thrown in, that could spark discussions though (what was there first: bad programming or the viewers?). But again I don't agree with the answers the movie provides.
We saw this film in a screening down at the film society. Loved it. This film is an excellent comment on the sick media world. Quite dramatic and brutal in the first part, warm and funny in the second. Full of mad ideas. A prankster movie and at the same time a political statement on the brainwash. Is it comedy? Drama? I don't know. Does it matter?
Definitely worth seeing. I also really loved it, because it's so different from the standard European art-house flicks. More fun, more diverse, crazier. A raw film. Moritz Bleibtreu, the male lead, seems to be one of Germany's finest. Camera is doc style, hand-held, but never nauseating.
Definitely worth seeing. I also really loved it, because it's so different from the standard European art-house flicks. More fun, more diverse, crazier. A raw film. Moritz Bleibtreu, the male lead, seems to be one of Germany's finest. Camera is doc style, hand-held, but never nauseating.
10CORITO1
I saw this movie yesterday in the San Sebastian Film Festival. I liked the message a lot.A German TV executive has a wake-up call and changes his life ,supporting a culture-driven society.
In these days , TV programs are usually rubbish, and a lot people think in that way, it's difficult to find programs with real interest. So Reclaim your Brain for me is a very good title. We,Citizens, are very tired of this rubbish we are sold day over day. we can change the world!.
But this change is not in the movies, but In our everyday's life.
thank you to all the crew of this movie for doing this picture.
In these days , TV programs are usually rubbish, and a lot people think in that way, it's difficult to find programs with real interest. So Reclaim your Brain for me is a very good title. We,Citizens, are very tired of this rubbish we are sold day over day. we can change the world!.
But this change is not in the movies, but In our everyday's life.
thank you to all the crew of this movie for doing this picture.
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaAccording to an interview, the GfK (Gesellschaft für Konsumforschung, Society for Consumer Research), replaced in the movie by the IMA, enjoyed watching the film but explained, that the situation could not be realized in real life.
- GoofsWhen Rainer's nose is bleeding he is holding his head back the whole time, which shouldn't be done as the blood would go down into the lounges. Instead he should have to lean forward and hold his nose at this situation.
- Quotes
Rainer Kuhhirt: Nobody out there is as stupid as the shows that we produce.
Maiwald: BUt then I'M wondering, who is buying these Britney Spears CDs.
- ConnectionsFeatures 60 Minutes (1968)
- SoundtracksAnger
Performed by Downset
Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Official site
- Language
- Also known as
- Reclaim Your Brain
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- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- €2,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross worldwide
- $1,945,355
- Runtime2 hours 10 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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