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Sleeper

GER 2005, 100 min

How must be a person who gives informations to the secret service? The much acclaimed debut of Benjamin Heisenberg hits a nerve.

Synopsis

Postgraduate Johannes moves to Munich to take up a new job at the department of virology of the Technical University. There, he meets Farid, a Persian, who attends to the same research project as Johannes does. Despite their competition, both men become friends. But then the secret service gets in contact with Johannes. They ask him to provide reports on Farid who is suspected to be a terrorist. At first, Johannes vehemently refuses to do so but agrees to spy on Farid when he gathers possible evidence of his friend’s terrorist intentions. Later, when the two friends encounter a work-related conflict, Johannes uses his position of power to cut his rival off of the research project.

Streaming-Info

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Language: German, Subtitles: English, French

Press reviews

A newly hired university professor is wracked by the possibility that an Algerian colleague he has befriended is a sleeper terrorist. A smart and simmering drama about pervasive, post 9/11 fears. (Newsday)

Awards and Festivals

- Cannes International Film Festival 2005 – Un certain regard Official Selection
- First Steps Award 2005
- Max Ophüls Preis 2006 – Best Movie, Best Screenplay, Best Film Music
- SR / ZDF - Screenplay awards
- Filmmusikpreis der Saarland Medien GmbH
- Premier Plans Festival D'Anger – Prix spécial du Jury
- Filmkunstfest Schwerin – Best Movie
- Cinéma Tout Ecran – Best Movie
- Perspectives Filmfestival International du Cinéma, Genf
- Euro Paws 2005 Midas Prize for best fiction drama set in science and technology

Credits

Director​ and Screenplay​
Benjamin Heisenberg
With
Bastian Trost, Mehdi Nebbou, Loretta Pflaum, Gundi Ellert, Wolfgang Pregler
Director of Photography​
Reinhold Vorschneider
Editor​
Stefan Stabenow, Karina Ressler
Production Design
Renate Schmaderer 
Costume Design​
Stephanie Rieß
Music
Lorenz Dangel
Line Producer
Bruno Wagner 
Producers
Barbara Albert, Martin Gschlacht, Jessica Hausner, Antonin Svoboda (coop 99), Peter Heilrath (juicy film)
Produced by
Coop99 Filmproduktion GmbH (Wien), Juicy Film (München)
World Premiere
19.05.2005, Cannes International Film Festival – Un certain regard Official Selection
German Theatrical Release
11.05.2006

DVD-Details

Extras
Short film DIE GELEGENHEIT by Benjamin Heisenberg with Sebastian Urzendowsky (2004, 20 min), audio commentary with Benjamin Heisenberg and Bastian Trost, interview, press review, trailer, chapter menu
Language
German
Subtitles
English, French
Country Code 
Code-free
System
PAL / Color
Length
100 min + Extras
Aspect Ratio 
16:9
Sound Format 
DD 2.0 + 5.1
Content
Softbox (Set Content: 1)
Release date
27.10.2006
Rating 
From 12 Years