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IMDbPro

Phoenix

  • 20142014
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 1h 38m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
19K
YOUR RATING
Nina Hoss in Phoenix (2014)
A disfigured concentration-camp survivor, unrecognizable after facial reconstruction surgery, searches ravaged postwar Berlin for the husband  who might have betrayed her to the Nazis.
Play trailer2:05
1 Video
84 Photos
  • Drama
  • History
  • Music
A disfigured Holocaust survivor sets out to determine if the man she loved betrayed her trust.A disfigured Holocaust survivor sets out to determine if the man she loved betrayed her trust.A disfigured Holocaust survivor sets out to determine if the man she loved betrayed her trust.
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
19K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Christian Petzold
  • Writers
    • Christian Petzold(screenplay)
    • Harun Farocki
    • Hubert Monteilhet(novel "Le Retour des cendres")
  • Stars
    • Nina Hoss
    • Ronald Zehrfeld
    • Nina Kunzendorf
Top credits
  • Director
    • Christian Petzold
  • Writers
    • Christian Petzold(screenplay)
    • Harun Farocki
    • Hubert Monteilhet(novel "Le Retour des cendres")
  • Stars
    • Nina Hoss
    • Ronald Zehrfeld
    • Nina Kunzendorf
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 85User reviews
    • 276Critic reviews
    • 89Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 17 wins & 30 nominations

    Videos1

    U.S. Trailer
    Trailer 2:05
    U.S. Trailer

    Photos84

    Nina Hoss and Ronald Zehrfeld in Phoenix (2014)
    Nina Hoss in Phoenix (2014)
    Nina Hoss and Ronald Zehrfeld in Phoenix (2014)
    Nina Hoss in Phoenix (2014)
    Nina Hoss and Ronald Zehrfeld in Phoenix (2014)
    Nina Hoss and Ronald Zehrfeld in Phoenix (2014)
    Phoenix (2014)
    Nina Hoss in Phoenix (2014)
    Nina Hoss in Phoenix (2014)
    Phoenix (2014)
    Phoenix (2014)
    Phoenix (2014)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Nina Hoss
    Nina Hoss
    • Nelly Lenzas Nelly Lenz
    Ronald Zehrfeld
    Ronald Zehrfeld
    • Johnny Lenzas Johnny Lenz
    Nina Kunzendorf
    • Lene Winteras Lene Winter
    Trystan Pütter
    Trystan Pütter
    • Soldat an der Brückeas Soldat an der Brücke
    Michael Maertens
    Michael Maertens
    • Arztas Arzt
    Imogen Kogge
    • Elisabethas Elisabeth
    Felix Römer
    • Geigeras Geiger
    Uwe Preuss
    Uwe Preuss
    • Clubbesitzeras Clubbesitzer
    Valerie Koch
    Valerie Koch
    • Tänzerinas Tänzerin
    Eva Bay
    Eva Bay
    • Tänzerinas Tänzerin
    Jeff Burrell
    Jeff Burrell
    • Soldat im Clubas Soldat im Club
    Nikola Kastner
    • Junge Frauas Junge Frau
    Max Hopp
    • Der Mannas Der Mann
    Megan Gay
    Megan Gay
    • Mitarbeiterin Zentralstelle Halenseeas Mitarbeiterin Zentralstelle Halensee
    Kirsten Block
    Kirsten Block
    • Wirtinas Wirtin
    Frank Seppeler
    • Alfred Mohnhauptas Alfred Mohnhaupt
    Daniela Holtz
    Daniela Holtz
    • Sigridas Sigrid
    Kathrin Wehlisch
    • Monikaas Monika
    • Director
      • Christian Petzold
    • Writers
      • Christian Petzold(screenplay)
      • Harun Farocki
      • Hubert Monteilhet(novel "Le Retour des cendres")
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This is the fifth out of Christian Petzold's seven feature films to feature actress Nina Hoss. Also, it's his second film in a row after Barbara (2012) to star Hoss and Ronald Zehrfeld in the leading roles.
    • Quotes

      [first lines]

      Lene Winter: [arriving at the border]

      Soldat an der Brücke: Passport... Nice car. Where did you get it from?

      Lene Winter: It's from Switzerland.

      Soldat an der Brücke: Just like you?

      Lene Winter: Like me.

      Soldat an der Brücke: [whistles to the gate] They're from Switzerland. The girl too.

      [to her passenger]

      Soldat an der Brücke: I want to see your face.

      Lene Winter: Can I talk to you?

      [gets out]

      Lene Winter: Come on, she's not Eva Braun.

      Soldat an der Brücke: Of course not. The bitch got killed by her husband.

      Lene Winter: She's from the camps.

    • Connections
      Featured in Love/Work/Cinema: A Conversation with Christian Petzold and Nina Hoss (2016)
    • Soundtracks
      Speak Low
      Music by Kurt Weill

      Lyrics by Ogden Nash

      Performed by Nina Hoss and heard as a theme over the credits

    User reviews85

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Simple but compelling and beautifully made.
    "Do you recognize me?" -Nelly

    Lisbon & Estoril Film Festival #6

    Phoenix has been one film that has been going through the fall film festival circuit (it premiered at Toronto and it has been all over the place around Europe), and even though it has gotten fantastic reviews and it was directed by already established director Christian Petzold, the film has received much attention. So I was thrilled when I saw that this film was in the line-up for the festival, I knew little or nothing about it, I hadn't seen any trailers and it seemed as though this one could be the festival's revelation. Still I went in just hoping to find a decent picture.

    Phoenix is Directed by Christian Petzold and it stars Nina Hoss, Ronald Zehrfeld, Nina Kunzendorf, Uwe Preuss, Michael Maertens and Valerie Koch.

    The war has ended and the survivors are returning home. Are they really lucky that they survived? A woman comes back home, to Berlin, with a disfigured face and a shattered mind. Nelly is going to have her face reconstructed, the doctors ask her what face she wants, maybe of a film start, but Nelly just wants her face back. Nelly just wanted everything to be as it was before the war, she wants her life, her husband, she wants to sing in the coir again, she wants to be able to live one more time. She searches for what's lost, her husband…Johnny. Johnny who might have betrayed Nelly and sent her to a concentration camp. She ultimately finds Johnny alive, working at a cabaret in Berlin. He doesn't recognize her and her heart is broken. But he sees that her new face is similar to his wife's face and he tells the stranger (Nelly, is own wife) that they could both get a lot of money by pretending that she was his wife. Nelly's healing face and broken spirit accept the challenge of impersonating herself, or at least what she once were. Johnny gives her lessons and through these lessons Nelly hopes to become what she wants was, through these lessons she hopes to win his husband back.

    Only a few weeks ago Fury was released, a tired, familiar World War II picture with very little to say. An America *beep* Yeah kind of picture with a lot of violence, where the Germans have the depth of the Nazis in Dead Snow and where every single character in that tank was a mere cliché. If you are going to make a World War II picture at least have some respect for your own subject. The fact that this one was a World War II picture made me a little scared, this sub-genre is way too iterant as it seems as though they make these pictures for the explosions. Really? Should you turn such an important subject into a Michael Bay depthless picture? This one though, fortunately, it is not Fury. It pays respect to its subject and it actually has something to say.

    Looking back Phoenix is actually an incredibly simple film, that doesn't even take many risks when it comes to narrative. It is simple but undeniably effective. The film is built up quite slowly and to say the truth it never takes many risky, unpredictable paths as what happens is pretty much expected. Still I found the picture to be incredibly compelling on an emotional level. Much of that is due to the fantastic acting by both Nina Hoss and Ronald Zehrfeld and because of Christian Petzold approach. An approach that might seem reserved, cold, too simple to some but I found it to be rich and absorbing. The film is like a big countdown, a crescendo, to a huge emotional climax that's simple and expected and still it struck me quite hard.

    Nina Hoss continues to be the target of Christian Petzold's attention and she continues to show why she's worthy of his attention and of the attention of many others. She has already been this year in Anton Corbijn's fantastic A Most Wanted Man delivering a strong performance. I really hope to see more from her in the future because she's got some talent. She carries this picture, she doesn't only give the face to the character, she becomes the character, she shine.

    I can see many being upset with the fact that the film doesn't make many bold moves and it ultimately takes the path that you expected it to take. Still it is beautifully constructed and crafted, the acting is excellent (especially from Nina Hoss, who was supposed to be present but didn't make it), it's emotionally complex and rich and it ultimately delivers the goods with a strong climax that will likely wreck you.

    Rating:B
    helpful•19
    10
    • aaskillz69
    • Nov 14, 2014

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 25, 2014 (Germany)
    • Countries of origin
      • Germany
      • Poland
    • Official sites
      • Official site
      • Official site (Japan)
    • Languages
      • German
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Фенікс
    • Filming locations
      • Legnica, Dolnoslaskie, Poland
    • Production companies
      • Schramm Film Koerner & Weber
      • Bayerischer Rundfunk (BR)
      • Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $3,184,472
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $30,296
      • Jul 26, 2015
    • Gross worldwide
      • $5,855,623
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 38 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

    Related news

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