Kohlhaas or the Proportionality of Means ( Kohlhaas oder die Verhältnismäßigkeit der Mittel )

Kohlhaas or the Proportionality of Means (DVD) (*)

~~$31.99~~ $25.97

Original Title: Kohlhaas oder die Verhältnismäßigkeit der Mittel
Screened, competed or awarded at:
Other Film Festival Awards

Language Selections:
English ( Subtitles )
French ( Subtitles )
German ( Dolby Digital Stereo )
Italian ( Subtitles )

Product Origin/Format:
Germany ( PAL/Region 0 )

Running Time:
90 min

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen (1.78:1)

Special Features:
Behind the scenes
Commentary
Deleted Scenes
Interactive Menu
Scene Access
Short Film
Teaser(s)
Trailer(s)

Movie filmed in 2012 and produced in:
Germany ( Germany, Central Europe )

Directed By:
Aron Lehmann

Written By:
Aron Lehmann

Actors:
Robert Gwisdek ..... Lehmann
Jan Messutat ..... Kohlhaas
Thorsten Merten ..... Herse
Rosalie Thomass ..... Lisbeth
Michael Fuith ..... Heinrich
Eckhard Greiner ..... Johann Hubel
Christian Lex ..... Pferdehändler
Luise Lähnemann ..... Marianne
Heiko Pinkowski ..... Rainer
Matthias Ransberger ..... Schauspieler / Gestalt
Peter Trabner ..... Roman

Synopsis:

Deep in the Bavarian countryside Kleist's historical drama Michael Kohlhaas is being shot. But instead of shooting a huge epic with impressive costumes and extraordinary props, grown-up men in blue overalls and suits run through the woods and fight with imaginary weapons. What has happened? The young director Lehmann is fighting for his vision, for his film, although all funds have been cancelled after the first day of shooting. With enthusiasm Lehmann appeals to the imagination of his team. He's convinced that the actor's play and the fantasy of the audience will be sufficient to make this movie authentic. The team depends on the support of the people from the village. But with his unconventional ideas and his fundamentalism, Lehmann has supporters as well as enemies. After a few days of shooting the mood at the set changes. Negative voices arise. It all seems to get out of control. The fictional Kohlhaas plot takes over reality little by little. Lehmann has to fight for his vision as much as Kleist's Kohlhaas has to fight for his right. Lehmann sees his hopes dash. But he knows: this film has to be finished. Whatever may come. Even if he has to go far. Too far.

When young filmmaker Lehmann (Gwisdek) suddenly loses funding for his current project (based on the historical drama Michael Kohlhaas by Heinrich von Kleist) he is faced with a serious dilemma: should he halt production, or use what little means he has at his disposal to realize his cinematic vision? Instead of producing the lavish historical epic he had planned, Lehmann is forced to work with what (and whom) he can to continue filming. Impressive sets are replaced by the local 'castle ruins' and lay actors from the nearby village complete the film's cast. Though his actors are armed with imaginary swords and clad in home-made costumes, Lehmann believes the verisimilitude of their performances and the imagination of the audience should be enough to hold the production together. Just as Kleist's titular character, Lehmann is a man who fights for his beliefs; Sincerity and Justice. Prepared to go to great lengths to ensure that his film is completed, Lehmann must trust that his cast and crew are as dedicated to the production as he is.

This product was added to our catalog on Wednesday 10 June, 2015.