F-0208

Title:

Schlafes Bruder
Brother of Sleep

Category:

S

Produced:

1995

Country:

Germany

Released:

Film: Sep 1995 (Toronto Film Festival, Canada); Oct 1995 (German); Sep 1996 (USA)
VHS: Jul 1997

Director:

Joseph Vilsmaier

Writer:

Robert Schneider (novel, screenplay)

Actors:

André Eisermann (Elias); Dana Vávrová (Elsbeth); Ben Becker (Peter); Jochen Nickel (Köhler Michel); Jürgen Schornagel (Kurat Benzer / Curate Benzer); Paulus Manker (Oskar); Michaela Rosen (Seffin); Péter Franke (Seff); Detlef Bothe (Lukas); Michael Mendl (Nulf); Eva Mattes (Nulfin); Angelika Bartsch (Burga); Lena Stolze (Oskarin); Heinz Emigholz (Haintz); Regina Fritsch (Hebamme / Midwife)

Description:

In the beginning of the 19th century, Johannes Elias Alder is born in a small village in the Austrian mountains. While growing up he is considered strange by the other villagers and discovers his love to music, especially to playing the organ at the local church. After experiencing an "acoustic wonder", his eye color changes and he can hear even the most subtle sounds. Elias falls in platonic love with Elsbeth, the sister of Peter, a neighbor's son, who has loving feelings towards Elias ever since. After Elsbeth marries someone else, Elias (aged 22) decides to end his life by not sleeping anymore. (Thomas Meyer)

Following motifs of the best seller of the same name by Robert Schneider, the film tells the story of musician Elias Alder, who brought his life to an end at the age of 22 having decided not to sleep any more. In a mountain village isolated from the world, the fate is fulfilled of a man mortally afflicted by a musical genius which prevents him from following the beating of his heart and settling for happiness with the woman whom he loves more than his own life. See also the documentary The Dark Forest of the Soul - A Portrait of the Writer Robert Schneider by Walter Baco. (Austrian Film Commission)

Language:

German

TT:

127 min / 133 min (VHS)

J.S. Bach's Music:

Chorale Komm O Tod, 'Du Schlafes Bruder (Mvt. 5) from Cantata BWV 56 Ich will den Kreuzstab gerne tragen
Recorded at Arco Studios München, Cap à pie Studios Neutraubling, In the mountains of the Salzkammergut

Format:

Film: Color, DTS / Dolby Digital
VHS: (Color, Subtitled, NTSC)
Soundtrack: CD

Company:

Film: B.A. Filmproduktion; Dor Film Produktionsgesellschaft; Iduna Film Produktiongesellschaft; Kuchenreuther Filmproduktion GmbH; Perathon Film-und Fernsehproduktions GmbH
VHS: Columbia/Tri-Star
Soundtrack: Ariola (CD)

Comments:

Watch selections:

Buy movie at:

VHS: Amazon.com

Source/Links: IMDB
Contributor: Aryeh Oron (November 2007)