The Tunnel Movie Review 2001

Originally produced for German television broadcast. Based on the true story of Harry Melchior (Ferch), an East German swimming champ who fled to West Berlin in 1961 as the wall was going up. Melchior is so committed to getting his sister Lotte (Lara) and her family out of East Berlin that he hatches a plan to dig a tunnel under the wall. Naturally the tunnel becomes a massive undertaking requiring the clandestine enlistment of other West Berliners with loved ones behind the wall. This tense drama is packed with story lines and looming disaster--a rare gem with top notch production values.

Distribution

Movies Unlimited, 3015 Darnell Rd., Philadelphia, PA 19154, Phone: (215)637-4444, Toll-free: 800-668-4344, Fax: (215)637-2350, Email: movies@moviesunlimited.com, URL: http://www.moviesunlimited.com

Available on DVD
Running time 157 minutes.
Originally from German.

Cast and Crew

Genres

True Stories, Germany, Berlin, Communists & Communism, Swimming, Team Efforts, Rescue Missions, Historical Drama, Period Piece: 1960s, Politics

Screenplay

Johannes W. Betz

Cast

Heino Ferch, Nicolette Krebitz, Sebastian Koch, Mehmet Kurtulus, Alexandra Maria Lara, Felix Eitner

Cinematography

Martin Langer

Director

Roland Suso Richter

Music

Harold Kloser, Thomas Wanker

Other

Roland Winke, Eva Schnare, Bettina Schmidt, Astrid Karras, Michael Pfalzer

Producer

Nico Hoffmann, Ariane Krampe, teamWorx Production