Elementarteilchen (2006)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Oskar Roehler

Writers:

Michel Houellebecq (novel)
Oskar Roehler (writer)

Release Date:

23 February 2006 (Germany)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Plot:

Based on Michel Houellebecq's controversial novel, this movie focuses on Michael and Bruno, two very different...

Plot Keywords:

Sexuality | Hippie | Biologist | Half Brother | Mental Illness

Awards:

1 win & 4 nominations

Cast

Moritz Bleibtreu	...	Bruno Klement
Christian Ulmen	...	Michael Djerzinski
Martina Gedeck	...	Christiane
Franka Potente	...	Annabelle
Nina Hoss	...	Jane
Uwe Ochsenknecht	...	Brunos Vater
Corinna Harfouch	...	Dr. Schäfer
Ulrike Kriener	...	Annabelles Mutter
Jasmin Tabatabai	...	Yogini
Michael Gwisdek	...	Professor Fleißer
Herbert Knaup	...	Sollers
Tom Schilling	...	Michael jung
Hermann Beyer	...	Annabelles Vater
Nina Kronjäger	...	Katja
Deborah Kaufmann	...	Hannelore

Also Known As:

The Elementary Particles (International: English title) (USA) (festival title)
Atomised (UK)
Elementary Particles (USA) (festival title)

Runtime:

113 min | 105 min

Country:

Germany

Language:

German | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Certification:

Germany:12 | UK:15 | Netherlands:12 | Sweden:11 | Hong Kong:III | South Korea:18 | Italy:VM14

Filming Locations:

Bahnhof, Hetschburg, Thuringia, Germany

Company:

Medienfonds GFP

Trivia:

Director 'Oskar Roehler' originally offered 'Moritz Bleibtreu' the role of Bruno, but he turned it down because he thought the role of a sex-addicted loser looked too much like his role in Roehler's previous film 'Agnes und seine Brüder (2004)'. Roehler gave Bleibtreu the role of Bruno's half-brother Michael instead, casting 'Christian Ulmen' in the role of Bruno. Late into the rehearsals, four weeks before shooting, Bleibtreu and Roehler decided that Bruno would actually be a better fit for Bleibtreu and so Bleibtreu and Ulmen switched roles.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: In the scene where Christiane is waiting for Bruno's phone call in her apartment, the doorstep onto the balcony is clearly visible. A few moments later when she rolls outside in her wheelchair it has been replaced with a ramp.

Tragically Weird

In Berlin, the scientist Michael Djerzinski (Christian Ulmen) decides to return to Ireland to proceed his research about genetics that he left behind three years ago. Meanwhile, his racist, bigoted, sexually disturbed and addicted in masturbation half-brother Bruno Klement (Moritz Bleibtreu) has just divorced from his wife and is interned in a psychiatric clinic for therapy. Michael and Bruno were left by their hippie mother that moved to Poona when they were child and their dysfunctional childhood reflects in their personality and sexual behavior. When Michael is informed that the remains of his grandmother should be replaced since a new road will pass by the cemetery, he visits his childhood sweetheart Annabelle (Franka Potente) and finds that she is an experienced woman that has had a crush on him since she was five years old. Further, she had had many deceptions in her love affairs, while Michael is still virgin. Meanwhile Bruno meets the liberal Christiane (Martina Gedeck) in a nudist camp and he believes she is the woman of his life, until a tragedy happens.

"Elementarteilchen" is a tragically weird, sometimes very unpleasant, low budget movie. Bruno is hateful character, with his sick and selfish behavior and prejudice. His essay about black people and his comments about Brazil are despicable. However, the performance of Moritz Bleibtreu is top-notch. I also liked very much the performance of Martina Gedeck. Christian Ulmen and Franka Potente complete the good cast of this strange and dramatic romance. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "Partículas Elementares" ("Elementary Particles")