fdo-316-23697 Reviews

Die Eroberung der Zitadelle (1977)

Sadly, the movie had distribution problems

[8/10 · 6 December 2013]

I was part of the production team in the Spring of 1976 and spent about three month on the small Italian Island of Elba, you will find production pictures at the exact Google Earth Location of the movie set at 42°43'14.21"N 10°22'35.57"E. The production costs exceeded of what was originally estimated. We had technical problems with some boats and to review the takes the "dailies" had to be shipped to Rome and back. Sadly, the movie had distribution problems and copies are hard to find.

Locals from Capoliveri were hired to build the Citadel out of wood, paper and paint on the base of an old destroyed mine near Innamorata on Elba Island. They had to be driven daily to the movie set about 30 minutes away. Here some private tidbits: After the production Andras Friscay married Jeanette Muhlmann. Sadly, Antonia Reininghaus committed suicide in 2006. She had a short liaison with actor Jürgen Prochnow (Das Boot, IMDb: tt0082096) in 1980. Both had a daughter named Johanna. Tragically her first suicide attempt in 1987 ended with the death of her daughter.

Savannah (2013)

Great scenery, fantastic camera work and a family friendly script!

[9/10 · 25 August 2013]

Savannah does attempt to tell the story of the friendship of two men, one returning from overseas to choose a life close to nature and his friend from childhood a freed slave and how a changing climate, culture, and society can make certain types of people and professions obsolete through no fault of their own.

It has an impressive cast with Jim Caviezel as Ward Allen and Chiwetel Ejiofor as Christmas Moultrie, together with Sam Shepard, Hal Holbrook and Jack McBrayer playing less important roles. In the center of all action is the duo of Ward Allen and Christmas Moultrie played by Jim Caviezel and Chiwetel Ejiofor. This important friendship should had have more room, more dialog. The relationship of Ward Allen with Lucy Stubbs played by Jaimie Alexander is more of a fictional drop-in and distracted from the rest of the storyline which could have disclosed more of Ward's intellectual background, the relationship with his father and his overseas upbringing.

Overall, great scenery, fantastic camera work and for those who know the book a very well written family friendly script in the European style of storytelling. Not Hollywood cinema, nothing flashy or fast paced. Enjoy the LowCountry landscape and a great sound track.