Alone in Berlin (film)
| Alone in Berlin | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Vincent Pérez |
| Produced by |
Stefan Arndt Uwe Schott Marco Pacchioni Christian Grass Paul Trijbits James Schamus |
| Written by |
Vincent Pérez Achim von Borries Bettine von Borries |
| Based on |
Every Man Dies Alone by Hans Fallada |
| Starring |
Emma Thompson Brendan Gleeson Daniel Brühl |
| Cinematography | Christophe Beaucarne |
| Edited by | François Gédigier |
Production companies |
X-Filme Master Movie Filmwave Pictures |
Release dates |
|
| Country |
Germany France United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Alone in Berlin is an upcoming war drama film directed by Vincent Pérez and written by Pérez and Achim von Borries, based on the 1947 fictionalized novel Every Man Dies Alone by Hans Fallada. The novel's characters Otto and Anna Quangel are based on the real lives of Otto and Elise Hampel. When their son dies in France, the couple start writing postcards to urge people to protest against Adolf Hitler and the Nazi regime. The film stars Emma Thompson, Brendan Gleeson, and Daniel Brühl. Principal photography began on 27 March 2015 in Berlin. It has been selected to compete for the Golden Bear at the 66th Berlin International Film Festival.[1]
Plot
In 1940, a working-class couple in World War II-era Berlin, Otto and Anna Quangel, decide to resist Adolf Hitler and the Nazis, after receiving the news of the death of their only son. They start writing postcards to urge people to stand against Hitler and the Nazis and protest against them.[2] Escherich is the Gestapo inspector charged with finding the source of the postcards.[3]
Cast
- Emma Thompson as Anna Quangel[2]
- Brendan Gleeson as Otto Quangel[4]
- Daniel Brühl as Escherich[3]
Production
Hans Fallada's Every Man Dies Alone was published posthumously in German in 1947 and was praised by Primo Levi as "the greatest book ever written about German resistance to the Nazis".[5] It was previously adapted as Alfred Vohrer's Everyone Dies Alone in 1975,[3] along with West and East German made-for-television dramas in 1962 and 1970. Marco Pacchioni and Vincent Pérez bought the rights to the novel in 2007.[2] Upon publication of its English translation in 2009, it became a "surprise bestseller" in both the US and UK.[5]
On 14 May 2014 it was announced that Pérez would direct the film based on an adaptation he cowrote with Achim von Borries.[2] Emma Thompson, Mark Rylance, and Daniel Brühl were named for the principal roles.[2] It is being produced by Master Movie's Pacchioni (French rights); X Filme's Stefan Arndt and Uwe Schott (German rights); Filmwave Pictures' Christian Grass and Paul Trijbits; and James Schamus.[2]
On 26 March 2015 Rylance was replaced by Brendan Gleeson.[4] Other crew members are cinematographer Christophe Beaucarne, production designer Jean-Vincent Puzos, and editor François Gédigier.[4] Alison Thompson is set to handle most foreign sales for the film through her Sunray Films,[6] although Pathé will release it in French-speaking areas.[6]
Filming
Principal photography on the film began on 27 March 2015 in Berlin.[4][3] It will also be shot in Cologne and Görlitz.[3]
See also
- Every Man Dies Alone (1947 West German novel; German: Jeder stirbt für sich allein)
- Everyone Dies Alone (1962 West German film; Jeder stirbt für sich allein)
- Jeder stirbt für sich allein (1970 East German miniseries)
- Everyone Dies Alone (1975 West German film; Jeder stirbt für sich allein)
References
- ↑ "Berlinale 2016: First Films for Competition and Berlinale Special". Berlinale. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Kemp, Stuart (May 14, 2014). "Cannes: Emma Thompson, Daniel Bruhl Join 'Alone In Berlin'". hollywoodreporter.com. Retrieved March 28, 2015.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Roxborough, Scott (March 26, 2015). "'Alone in Berlin' Starring Emma Thompson, Brendan Gleeson Begins Shoot". hollywoodreporter.com. Retrieved March 28, 2015.
- 1 2 3 4 Barraclough, Leo (March 26, 2015). "Emma Thompson, Brendan Gleeson Movie ‘Alone in Berlin’ Starts to Shoot". variety.com. Retrieved March 28, 2015.
- 1 2 Dalya Alberge, "Hans Fallada's anti-Nazi classic becomes surprise UK bestseller" The Observer (May 23, 2010). Retrieved March 6, 2012
- 1 2 Kemp, Stuart (April 29, 2014). "Cannes: Alison Thompson to Launch Sunray Films with 'Alone in Berlin'". hollywoodreporter.com. Retrieved March 29, 2015.