Project Detail

Alone in Berlin

Synopsis

Berlin 1940. The city is paralyzed by fear. Otto and Anna Quangel are a working class couple living in a shabby apartment block trying, like everyone else, to stay out of trouble under Nazi rule. But when their only child is killed fighting at the front, their loss drives them to an extraordinary act of resistance. They start to drop anonymous postcards all over the city attacking Hitler and his regime. If caught, it means certain execution. Soon their campaign comes to the attention of the Gestapo inspector Escherich and a murderous game of cat-and-mouse begins. But the game serves only to strengthen Otto and Anna’s sense of purpose and a renewed love for each other. Slowly their drab lives and marriage are transformed as they unite in their quiet but profound rebellion...
Over 60 years after its initial publication, Hans Fallada’s novel, written directly after the Second World War, became a worldwide bestseller. Based on a true story, the powerful and redemptive novel was described by Primo Levi as “the greatest book ever written about German resistance to the Nazis.”
Berlinale 2016 - World premiere

Details

Year: 2016
Type of project: Features
Running time: 97 mins
Director: Vincent Perez
Producer: Stefan Arndt, Christian Grass, Marco Pacchioni, James Schamus, Uwe Schott, Paul Trijbits
Executive Producer: Michael Scheel, Lisa Wolofsky
Editor: François Gédigier
Screenwriter: Achim von Borries (screenplay), Bettine von Borries (writer), Vincent Perez (writer), Hans Fallada (novel)
Director of Photography: Christophe Beaucarne
Production Designer: Jean-Vincent Puzos
Sound: Lee Herrick
Composer: Alexandre Desplat
Principal cast: Brendan Gleeson, Emma Thompson, Daniel Brühl, Mikael Persbrandt

Genre

Drama

Production Status

Complete

Production Company

Germany, UK, France coproduction

X-Filme Creative Pool (DE), FilmWave (UK), Master Movies (FR)

FilmWave

Christian Grass
4th Floor
27 Margaret Street
London
W1W 8RY

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Sales Company

Cornerstone Films Ltd

12 Sunray Avenue
London
SE24 9PY