Dresden (2006) (TV)

Director:

Roland Suso Richter

Writer:

Stefan Kolditz (writer)

Release Date:

5 March 2006 (Germany)

Genre:

Drama | Romance | War

Plot:

A romance between a British pilot hiding in Germany and a German nurse is shown on the background of massive allied bombing of Dresden towards the end of World War 2.

Plot Keywords:

Bombing | Dresden Germany | Melodrama | Kitsch | Fire

Awards:

3 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Felicitas Woll	...	Anna Mauth
John Light	...	Robert Newman
Benjamin Sadler	...	Alexander Wenninger
Heiner Lauterbach	...	Carl Mauth
Katharina Meinecke	...	Magda Mauth
Marie Bäumer	...	Maria Goldberg
Kai Wiesinger	...	Simon Goldberg
Wolfgang Stumph	...	Pfarrer
Jürgen Heinrich	...	Gauleiter Martin Mutschmann
Susanne Bormann	...	Eva Mauth
Paul Ready	...	William
John Keogh	...	Flight Lt. Leslie, Master Bomber
Christian Rodska	...	Arthur Harris
Anja Taschenberg	...	Grashena
Pip Torrens	...	Saundby

Also Known As:

Dresden (International: English title) (USA) (DVD title)
Dresden - das Inferno (Germany)
Dresden: The Inferno (International: English title)
Dresde 1945, chronique d'un amour (France) [fr]
Dresden (Finland) (DVD title) [fi]
Dresden - O Inferno (Brazil) [pt]
Dresden i lågor (Finland: Swedish title) [sv]
Dresden liekeissä (Finland) [fi]
Drezda - A pokol napjai (Hungary) (DVD title) [hu]
Stin kolasi tis Dresdis (Greece) (theatrical title) [el]

Runtime:

176 min | Finland:144 min (DVD)

Country:

Germany

Language:

German | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Certification:

Finland:K-13 | Singapore:M18

Filming Locations:

Cologne, North Rhine - Westphalia, Germany

Company:

EOS Entertainment

Trivia:

The character of Simon Goldberg was based on diarist and professor Victor Klemperer.

Goofs:

Factual errors: When Robert enters his Lancaster he enters through the rear door and turns left. He then proceeds to the pilot’s seat at the front of the aircraft, however as he entered through the rear door and turned left he should head towards the rear gunner’s position at the rear of the aircraft. When his Lancaster takes off he also incorrectly advances the throttles on his own - his flight engineer would also advance the throttles eventually taking over, allowing the pilot to use both hands on the control column.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Neues aus der Anstalt: Jahresabschluss-Therapie (#1.10)" (2007)

A welcoming change...

Following a friend's advice, I just finished watching "Dresden".

"Dresden" deals with two major themes: one dealing with the war itself, showing the German civilians living day to day in fear of severe retaliation on behalf of the British RAF. It also shows how the British pilots, who risk their lives to bomb the enemy, and how ruthless the Nazi's were.

The other theme is a fragment of the previous theme, showing a love-story between a stranded British pilot and a German civilian nurse working in a local hospital during the war.

Hence of course why this film is called "Dresden"; not because of the city but because of anyone and anything taking place in the city of Dresden.

Also worth to mention is that "Dresden" is unlike other Hollywood movies dealing World War 2. It's not meant to only entertain the viewer but to educate as well. This is partially done by some intense dramatic moments and painful, shocking detailed images.

About the rest of the movie; I was surprised by the good acting performances done by a relative unknown cast. At least I don't know any of them. It also was quite obvious that a large budget was available, looking at the good quality of production when keeping in mind that "Dresden" is 'only' a TV-movie.

Conclusion: if you want to learn something more about World War 2 while 'witnessing' it from another point of view and at the same time enjoying an intriguing story about two 'enemies' falling in love, then "Dresden" is something for you.

If you want American patriotism, a single sided view on World War 2 and lots of entertainment, then I'm sure that there are plenty of Hollywood-films out there.

My score, keeping in mind it's 'only' a TV-film: 8 out of 10.