REVANCHE

drama | Götz Spielmann | AT | 2008 | 121 min
Release: 16.05.2008

A nature scene. Late summer. A small lake in the woods. No people. Silence. Not far away, a newly built house inhabited by a couple: Robert (Andreas Lust) and Susanne (Ursula Strauss). They live an ordinary life like so many other people. Meanwhile in Vienna. Nightlife, red light district, the world of prostitution. Here money rules. Most people have jobs that barely let them scrape by. Like Alex and Tamara (Johannes Krisch and Irina Potapenko).

She is a prostitute from Ukraine; he, the boss’ errand boy. They are lovers, but they have to keep it a secret. Employees aren’t allowed to engage in amorous relations. They want to escape this life, but they need money first. Alex devises a plan to rob a bank in a little village out in the countryside. Tamara wants to come along, and he reluctantly agrees. Everything is going exactly as planned until a policeman happens to walk up: Robert. He fires a few shots at the getaway car as it speeds off and hits the young woman. Overcome with despair, Alex leaves the body behind in a forest clearing. He lies low at his grandfather’s place.

The old man lives on a desolate farm at the edge of the woods. Silent and withdrawn, Alex begins the task of chopping the firewood for the approaching winter. He is consumed with pain, grief, and the hate he harbors for the man responsible for Tamara’s death. A lake in the woods, this is where Robert goes to be alone. Now he comes here to try to sort out what happened. Alex observes the policeman, spies on him, follows him as he goes about his daily routine. And he meets Susanne, the policeman’s wife. The lives of all these people will change as a result of Tamara’s death – more radically than they suspect. And autumn comes, just like every year.

With: Johannes Krisch, Irina Potapenko, Ursula Strauss, Andreas Lust, Hannes Thanheiser and many more

Funding: Österreichisches Filminstitut, Filmfonds Wien, ORF Film/Fernseh-Abkommen, Land Niederösterreich

Credits

Production Company Prisma Film- und Fernsehproduktion GmbH
● Mathias Forberg, Heinz Stussak
Spielmann Film
● Sandra Bohle, Götz Spielmann
SCREENPLAY & Director Götz Spielmann
DOP Martin Gschlacht
EDITOR Karina Ressler
SOUND Heinz Ebner
ART DEPARTMENT Maria Gruber
COSTUME DESIGNER Monika Buttinger
MAKE UP Susanne Weichesmiller
PRODUCTION MANAGER Stephanie Wagner
CASTING Rita Waszilovics
Distributor Filmladen
World Sales The Match Factory

Prizes

ACADEMY AWARDS, USA

Nominated for: Best Foreign Language Film of the Year

DIAGONALE FESTIVAL DES ÖSTERREICHISCHEN FILMS
  • Grand prize
  • Prize of the AAC for Best Camera
BERLIN INTERNATIONAES FILMFESTIVAL
  • C.I.C.A.E. AWARD
  • Femina-Film-Prize
  • Label Europa Cinemas
TROMSÖ INTERNASJONALE FILMFESTIVAL
  • AURORA Award
  • FIPRESCI Prize
PALM SPRINGS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
  • FIPRESCI Prize Best Foreign Language Film
FILMFESTIVAL MAX OPHÜLS FESTIVAL
  • Best Young Actress
MOTOVUN FILM FESTIVAL
  • From A to A Award
FILMKUNSTFEST M-V IN SCHWERIN
  • flying Ox
FÜNF SEEN FILMFESTIVAL
  • Star 2008
INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL MONTERREY
  • Best screenplay
  • Audience Award
DER PAPIERENE GUSTL (Preis der österreichischen Filmjournalisten)
Best Austrian Film

Festivals