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)

Also Known As:

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

Runtime:

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

Beautiful scenery, a haunting atmosphere and a gripping story.

When I first saw this film in 1989, the director had just won the Bavarian Film Prize as "Best Rookie Director." However, I didn't know what to expect. I had been familiar with other modern German movies and was prepared to be disappointed. Just the opposite turned out to be true. The film had a dreamlike quality with beautiful photography, a haunting atmosphere and a gripping story. The music fit the film perfectly and I couldn't believe that the movie had been made by a first-time director. The story was not presented chronologically or sequentially, but was punctuated with flashbacks and "flashforwards," making it seem like a puzzle to be solved, as much as a story to be told. Although it had elements of a fairy tale, the sinister and symbolic elements conspired to make it seem more like a Gothic novel. It was an interesting combination of mystery, suspense, and psychological study, with historic elements thrown in. I came out of the theater knowing that there was hope for the modern German film. In recent years, I have seen the film again a number of times. Each time I see it, I seem to understand more and to find things that I hadn't previously noticed. Although some would put the film into the "horror" or "suspense" category, it is a world apart from a monster or slasher movie, although it has tinges of both. I heartily recommend the film to anyone who enjoys suspense. You will be sitting on the edge of your seat, especially during the final scene, and you will be thinking about the film for days to come.