Not Reviewed Theatrical Release 07/29/05 Home Video Not Available MPAA Rating Not Rated Running Time 2 hours 40 minutes Genre Foreign Film, German, Drama, Based on a true story Director Roland Suso Richter Cast Heino Ferch, Nicolette Krebitz, Alexandra Maria Lara, Sebastian Koch, Uwe Kockish Studio Home Vision Entertainment |
THE TUNNEL
SYNOPSIS
Based on incredible true events, THE TUNNEL tells the story of
Harry Melchior, a champion East German swimmer at odds with
the Communist government under which he has already been
imprisoned for his beliefs. Though required to remain in East
Germany after his release from prison, Harry narrowly escapes
just as the Berlin Wall is being completed. He successfully flees
the oppressive Communist regime, but his beloved sister and
her family are unable to join him. Harry is determined to rescue
them, and aided by his best friend— engineering genius Matthis
Hiller — the idea of the tunnel is born. The project, however, is
fraught with complications.
Harry and Matthis first rent an abandoned building right next to
the Wall, but struggle with the massive logistics and costs of
their task. Quickly realizing that it will take years to complete
the tunnel on their own, they enlist several helpers, all
motivated by the prospect of rescuing their own families and
friends. However, with additional helpers comes more risk...for
any new member could be a potential traitor.
Based on incredible true events, THE TUNNEL tells the story of
Harry Melchior, a champion East German swimmer at odds with
the Communist government under which he has already been
imprisoned for his beliefs. Though required to remain in East
Germany after his release from prison, Harry narrowly escapes
just as the Berlin Wall is being completed. He successfully flees
the oppressive Communist regime, but his beloved sister and
her family are unable to join him. Harry is determined to rescue
them, and aided by his best friend— engineering genius Matthis
Hiller — the idea of the tunnel is born. The project, however, is
fraught with complications.
Harry and Matthis first rent an abandoned building right next to
the Wall, but struggle with the massive logistics and costs of
their task. Quickly realizing that it will take years to complete
the tunnel on their own, they enlist several helpers, all
motivated by the prospect of rescuing their own families and
friends. However, with additional helpers comes more risk...for
any new member could be a potential traitor.
The pacing is brisk and tensions rise as the threat of the tunnel collapsing weighs constantly
on the protagonists' minds. They worry that their tunnel could open in the wrong place, or
worse, that the brutal East German police will discover their plans for escape. Matters are
complicated even further by the arrival of the beautiful 'Fritzi,' whose passionate chemistry with
Harry upsets the dynamics of the team.
An interesting, factual side note: the NBC television network became involved in this project
and actually helped finance the tunnel's construction. The network originally planned a fictional
film about tunneling through the wall, then scrapped this idea to record the real heroes as they
completed their nine-month long mission. It was broadcast as an NBC White Paper in 1961.
© Home Vision Entertainment
on the protagonists' minds. They worry that their tunnel could open in the wrong place, or
worse, that the brutal East German police will discover their plans for escape. Matters are
complicated even further by the arrival of the beautiful 'Fritzi,' whose passionate chemistry with
Harry upsets the dynamics of the team.
An interesting, factual side note: the NBC television network became involved in this project
and actually helped finance the tunnel's construction. The network originally planned a fictional
film about tunneling through the wall, then scrapped this idea to record the real heroes as they
completed their nine-month long mission. It was broadcast as an NBC White Paper in 1961.
© Home Vision Entertainment
© 2003 St. Louis Movie Review Weekly. All rights reserved, except where indicated.
All movie titles, pictures, etc...are the property of their respective studios.
All movie titles, pictures, etc...are the property of their respective studios.
| ST. LOUIS MOVIE REVIEW WEEKLY Brenda S. Ladd & Mary K. Morgan |
