Alone in Berlin (2016)

After a Nazi German working class couple loses their son in World War II, they decide to retaliate by secretly leafletting handwritten cards in Berlin denouncing their government.

Director:

Vincent Perez

Writers:

Achim von Borries (screenplay), Vincent Perez (screenplay)

Stars:

Emma Thompson, Daniel Brühl, Brendan Gleeson

3 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Emma Thompson	...	Anna Quangel
Daniel Brühl	...	Escherich
Brendan Gleeson	...	Otto Quangel
Mikael Persbrandt	...	SS Officer Prall
Louis Hofmann	...	Hans Quangel
Katharina Schüttler	...	Claire Gehrich
Godehard Giese	...	Colonel Krüger
Jacob Matschenz	...	Dietrich Necker
Rainer Reiners	...	Salesman Franz Kanz
Ernst Stötzner	...	Dptm. Head Walter
Katharina Abt	...	Flower Shop lady I. Schneider
Monique Chaumette	...	Frau Rosenthal
Uwe Preuss	...	Persicke
Jürgen Tarrach	...	Caretaker Richard Schopf
Luisa Wolf	...	Secretary

Storyline

In 1940, German soldier Hans Quangel is killed in action during the French campaign. His parents, Otto and Anna, are devastated by the loss and their bereavement is unmollified by the joyful hysteria at Germany's victory. Deciding that Fuhrer Adolf Hitler and his Nazi regime are responsible for this tragedy and much more, Otto cannot stand by any longer. As such, Otto begins to create handwritten cards denouncing the regime's abuses and lies, which he secretly deposits throughout Berlin while a disillusioned Anna insists on helping him. As the subversive cards pile up over the years, police detective Escherich is tasked to track down the leafleteer while being pressured by his increasingly impatient SS superior for an arrest for this "treason," regardless of actual guilt. As the stakes rise even as Nazi Germany's day of reckoning approaches, Otto and Anna are determined to spread the truth regardless of the odds even as their opposition awaits the fatal mistake that could doom them.

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Plot Keywords:

torture | 1940s | gestapo | power saw | coffin maker | 

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Taglines:

The truth was their resistance.

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for brief violence

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Germany] Official site [Japan]

Country:

UK France Germany

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 January 2017 (USA)

Also Known As:

Cartas de Berlín

Filming Locations:

Görlitz, Saxony, Germany

Company Credits

Production Co:

X-Filme Creative Pool,Master Movies,FilmWave

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Marco Pacchioni and Vincent Perez acquired the rights to the novel in 2007.

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Quotes

Escherich: It's a man whose no longer young. Who lost his only son in the French campaign. Inexperienced at writing; but, intelligent. The style has visibly changed during the course of the year. In recent months he has used the title: Free Press.

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Connections

Version of Jeder stirbt für sich allein (1970)

User Reviews

Great acting

This film tells the story of a German middle aged couple, who lost their only son in the second world war. They start a postcard writing campaign, and leave anti government messages all around Berlin.

"Alone in Berlin" shows two seemingly insignificant individuals who risk their lives because they believe that they could change the society. The acting is very good, Emma Thompson and Brendan Gleeson are really wonderful in bringing their characters alive. The brief court room scene is very moving. The ending is very good, as it is an unexpectedly fulfilling ending. I did not see that change coming. I enjoyed watching it.