Directed by:
Florian GallenbergerCinematography:
Kolja BrandtCast:
Emma Watson, Daniel Brühl, Michael Nyqvist, Richenda Carey, Vicky Krieps, Jeanne Werner, Julian Ovenden, Martin Wuttke, August Zirner, Nicolás Barsoff (more)Plots(1)
A young woman's desperate search for her abducted boyfriend that draws her into the infamous Colonia Dignidad, a sect nobody ever escaped from. (official distributor synopsis)
Videos (6)
Reviews (11)
A co-production Requiem for a Maiden without Renč's exploitative lack of feeling and above all without the lesbian scene with Holubová, from start to finish it's an incredibly mind-numbing and routine inspired-by-true-story Pinochet-era romance with no handwriting whatsoever. Emma Watson plays a lunatic well.
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Argo 2 – made in Germany (so a bit worse). Too bad about the clumsy script, which throws up one formulaic thing after another, because otherwise this is a pretty decent German scenic drive. Great actors without exception, an electrifying finale, and an interesting, period-accurate, portrayal of 1970s Chile and the camp practices. Emma Watson confirms that she can break out of the role of Harry Potter's uptight friend and is starting to emerge as a top-notch actress with all the prerequisites for success.
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A story built on strong themes that we have all seen a thousand times before elsewhere, and often far more evocatively delivered. The narrative is cohesive and builds up satisfyingly, depressingly reflecting the oppressive atmosphere of its tyrannical setting, with the casting of the disgustingly accomplished villain Nyqvist being a definite hit. Unfortunately, it lacks the aforementioned suggestion, which is, with a few exceptions, represented by cheap, visual and plot clichés for the masses, and the fluffy ending, although it pulls you in by evoking warm empathy for the fate of the main characters, turns out exactly the way the you’d expect. The horrific story of Dignidad deserves a slightly more distinctive and gritty treatment, although I acknowledge the effort to make such untold events as widely available as possible. 70%
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If I were to approach Colonia as a so-called serious film that tries to analyze the political situation in Chile after Pinochet's coup and also examines the functioning of closed religious communities, I would have to unconditionally give it a negative rating, and quite radically. Fortunately, being well-informed, I have always perceived Colonia as an adventurous thriller with a strong romantic subplot that perceives the political situation after the military coup only as a backdrop for its storytelling. Within the genre, it is certainly above average. The film is well cast, especially Michael Nyqvist as the sect leader, who acts appropriately corrupted and demonic. He truly relishes the role. Of course, weaknesses and flaws can be found in the screenplay, especially in the last ten minutes when Colonia imitates the finale of Argo, which comes across rather comically. While in Argo, you felt like the Ayatollahs were breathing down your neck, while here the ending seems somewhat naive. However, the main thing is that, practically throughout the film, it maintains its pace and tension in line with what it wants to be. It simply entertains. I thus have no reason to give it less than 4 stars and a 75% overall impression.
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I was looking forward to this film, but I’m disappointed. Daniel Brühl was excellent as usual, but this time he was overshadowed by the main villain played by Michael Nyqvist. The role obviously agreed with him. My disappointment stems mainly from the fact that it is difficult to create an atmosphere of terror when you have to rely on mere hints. I'm not saying that I need to see splashes of blood on the screen all the time, but Colonia felt a bit like a porn movie with a bunch of people sitting around a table discussing sex. It could have been a good film if it hadn't been for the wasted potential and the resulting lackluster atmosphere.
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