The Day I Was Not Born (2010)

During a stopover in Buenos Aires on her way to Chile, 31-year-old Maria recognizes a nursery rhyme. Maria doesn't speak a work of Spanish, but without understanding what she is singing, ... See full summary »

Director:

Florian Cossen (as Florian Micoud Cossen)

Writers:

Florian Cossen (as Florian Micoud Cossen), Elena von Saucken

Stars:

Jessica Schwarz, Michael Gwisdek, Rafael Ferro

7 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Jessica Schwarz	...	Maria Falkenmayer
Michael Gwisdek	...	Anton Falkenmayer
Rafael Ferro	...	Alejandro
Beatriz Spelzini	...	Estela
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Alfredo Castellani	...	Hugo
Marcela Ferrari	...	Ana
Carlos Portaluppi

Storyline

During a stopover in Buenos Aires on her way to Chile, 31-year-old Maria recognizes a nursery rhyme. Maria doesn't speak a work of Spanish, but without understanding what she is singing, she remembers the Spanish lyrics. Disturbed and thrown off course, she decides to interrupt her journey and wander through the unfamiliar city. On the phone to Germany, she tells her father, Anton, about her experience and the peculiar fascination the unfamiliar city has had for her. Two days later, Anton suddenly turns up at Maria's hotel with something to confess: Maria spent the first three years of her life in Buenos Aires during the military dictatorship at the end of the 1970s. The people she had always thought were her parents had adopted her and brought her to Germany. Father and daughter begin a journey in search of Maria's biological parents. Anton does everything he can not to lose his daughter.

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Plot Keywords:

the disappeared | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site at UFA.de

Country:

Germany Argentina

Language:

German Spanish

Release Date:

10 February 2011 (Germany)

Also Known As:

Dal a múltból

Filming Locations:

Buenos Aires, Federal District, Argentina

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bayerischer Rundfunk (BR), Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg, Mateína Producciones

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

User Reviews

How to get a little gem out of an old plot

The basic plot of Das Lied in mir (man/woman finds out he/she was adopted) has been done and redone a thousand times and the first half hour of the film does little to convince the viewer it is going to be any different. Most situations are predictable and the policeman subplot is hard to believe. But as the film progresses newcomer director Florian Cossen shows absolute control of the story, with subtle plot changes and charismatic characters, not to mention the spectacular photography and music. It really grows on you.

Having seen my fair share of German movies in the last years I was also pleased in finding "new" faces in the cast - also excellent in the Argentinian side.