Laurin (1989)

Director:

Robert Sigl

Writers:

Ádám Rozgonyi (screenplay)
Robert Sigl (screenplay)

Release Date:

30 November 1989 (West Germany)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Dort wo kein Tod mehr ist sehen wir uns wieder.

Plot:

A small port at the turn of last century, embedded in a romantic river landscape with dense woods and a large castle ruin on a hill...

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Dóra Szinetár	...	Laurin (as Dora Szinetar)
Brigitte Karner	...	Flora Andersen
Károly Eperjes	...	Van Rees (as Karoly Eperjes)
Hédi Temessy	...	Olga (as Hedi Temessy)
Barnabás Tóth	...	Stefan Berghaus (as Barnabas Toth)
Kati Sír	...	Frau Greta Berghaus (as Katalin Sir)
Endre Kátay	...	Pastor Van Rees (as Endre Katay)
János Derzsi	...	Arne (as Janos Derzsi)
Zoltán Gera	...	Herr Engels (as Zoltan Gera)
Ildikó Hámori	...	Frau Johansson (as Ildiko Hamori)
Zsolt Szerenyi	...	Zigeunerjunge
Ottilia Marschek	...	Zwillingsschwester
Gabriella Marschek	...	Zwillingsschwester
Attila Hajdu	...	Enno
Gábor Németh	...	Nikolas (as Gabor Nemeth)
Zoltán Gyorgy	...	Van Rees (10 Jahre alt) (as Zoltan Györfy)
Balázs Tardy	...	Erster Zigeuner (as Balazs Dardi)
Bela Kasi	...	Zweiter Zigeuner (as Bella Kassi)
Zsolt Lakatos	...	Zweiter Zigeunerjunge
Katalin Lappath	...	Wienke
Chris Dalton	...	Erster Matrose
Karoly Veres	...	Zweiter Matrose
Robert Sigl	...	Schäfer / Soldat
Hobo	...	Schwarzer Hund (dog)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Peter Petrik	...	Ennos Freund (uncredited)

Directed by
Robert Sigl

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Ádám Rozgonyi		screenplay collaboration (as Adam Rozgonyi)
Robert Sigl		screenplay, idea and book

Produced by
Andreas Bareiß	....	producer (as Andreas Bareiss)
György Onódi	....	executive producer (as György Onodi)
Róbert Prokopp	....	executive producer (as Robert Prokopp)
Bernhard Stampfer	....	producer (as Bernhardt Stampfer)

Original Music by
Hans Jansen
Jacques Zwart

Cinematography by
Nyika Jancsó		(as Nyika Jancso)

Film Editing by
Teri Losonci

Costume Design by
Gizella Koppány		(as Gizi Koppany)

Makeup Department
Edit Basilides	....	makeup artist
Gabi Várnai	....	hair stylist (as Gabriella Varnai)

Production Management
Susan Schulte	....	executive in charge of production
Miklós Szita	....	production manager (as Miklos Szita)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Péter Barbalics	....	first assistant director (as Peter Barbalits)
Petra Doba Simkó	....	third assistant director (as Petra Simko Doba)
Péter Gyõry	....	second assistant director (as Peter Györy)

Art Department
István Galambos	....	assistant designer (as Istvan Galambos)
Éva Martin	....	set design (as Eva Martin)
Gyula Toth	....	property master

Sound Department
Lajos Ledniczky	....	sound assistant
István Wolf	....	sound (as Istvan Wolf)

Special Effects by
György Velezdi	....	special effects (as György Velezdy)

Camera and Electrical Department
Sándor Császár	....	chief lighting technician (as Sandor Csaszar)
György Erös	....	lighting technician
Kornél Fiskovszky	....	lighting technician (as Kornel Fiskovszky)
Rudolf Graczer	....	assistant camera (as Rudolf Gratzer)
József Halom	....	camera operator (as Jozsef Halom)
István Hegedûs	....	best boy
Ferenc Németh	....	camera technician (as Ferenc Nemeth)
Peter Sebök	....	lighting technician
Imre Sisa	....	lighting technician
László Sudár	....	lighting technician (as Laszlo Sudar)
András Váradi	....	assistant camera (as Andras Varadi)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Klára Gulyás	....	assistant costumer (as Klari Gulyas)
Bea Hoffmann	....	wardrobe

Editorial Department
Helga Borsche	....	editorial advisor
Emese Mészáros	....	assistant editor (as Emese Meszaros)

Transportation Department
Istvan Erdei	....	production driver
Jozsef Hoffer	....	production driver
Jozsef Pethö	....	production driver

Other crew
Gabriella Antall	....	script (as Gabriella Antall)
Péter Bacsó	....	consultant (as Peter Bacso)
Gloria Burkert	....	production business manager
Ruth Carlson	....	dialogue coach
Tina Dittlein	....	coordinator
Peter Dress	....	production assistant
Andrea Janossy	....	caterer
Géza Jánossy	....	caterer (as Geza Janossy)
Tamás Kende	....	photos
Ági Kökönyei	....	production secretary (as Agi Kökönyei)
Ildikó Kovács	....	location manager (as Ildiko Kovacs)
Antonio Morvai	....	interpreter
Johann Raps	....	production business manager
Sigrid Reti	....	production assistant (as Dr. Sigrid Reti)
Péter Rutkai	....	location manager (as Peter Rutkai)
David Scharfenberg	....	historical research
Ferenc Tolvaly	....	production preparation
Imre Varga	....	opticals

Production Companies

• Dialóg Filmstúdió (as Dialog Filmstudio)
• Salinas Filmproduktion
• Südwestfunk (SWF) (as Südwestfunk Baden-Baden)
• TS-Film

Distributors

• Cine International (1989) (worldwide) (theatrical)
• e-m-s the DVD-Company

Also Known As:

Laurin: A Journey Into Death (Canada: English title) (TV title)
Laurin (Argentina) [es]

Runtime:

West Germany:84 min | Argentina:84 min | UK:80 min

Country:

West Germany | Hungary

Language:

German

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Certification:

Argentina:16 | UK:18 | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Hollokö, Hungary

Company:

Dialóg Filmstúdió

Movie Connections:

Featured in Schrei - denn ich werde dich töten! (1999) (TV)

Not exactly horror, but a very good movie

This movie turned out to be quite a bit different then I thought it would be but in a good way. The subtitle would lead you to believe that Laurin is a horror movie but after a few minutes you realize it is something completely different. Previous comments refer to this movie as being surreal and I think that is about as close to an explanation as you can get. This is a gorgeously shot movie that utilizes great natural scenery combined with carefully chosen lighting which sets the mood in every scene. The director makes great use of imagery and color and overall this movie has a really ominous and eerie feeling to it all the way through. As I mentioned though, this isn't really a typical American "horror" movie considering the low body count. It is more cerebral then most horror movies and is artfully put together from beginning to end without being pretentious art house crap.

There are a wholllleeeee lot of interesting characters in this movie, many who have issues with repressed sexuality. The lead character Laurin sleeps in a crib and at first seems to be mentally age-regressed or slow...or something. Also present are the local Priest and his son who both seem to have a number of "issues" relating to childhood and sexuality. Don't forget the crossdressing sissy school-boy, the dope smoking granny, and spying on people in the bathtub.

If you're looking for gore or high body count then keep going but if you are open to something a little more in the vein of maybe David Lynch then I highly recommend Laurin.