Escape stories always go. The GDR is also almost 30 years after the fall of the Berlin wall a case for the cinema. The Comedian Michael “Bully” Herbig has made from a authentic history of his first “serious” Film.
This is a great art: A story to make a film that actually happened and everyone knows, as it is assumed – and still breathless tension in the cinema.
In 1979, two families flew with a homemade hot-air balloon of Thuringia on the border to the West German francs. One of the most spectacular escape stories of the GDR-history. Director Michael “Bully” Herbig has turned the matter now an exciting Thriller.
Disney “discovered” the spectacular escape story once for the cinema
First of all, a brief review is worthwhile: Hollywood discovered in the flight with the balloon at a much earlier stage for a thrilling movie Theater for a large audience. The Walt Disney company secured the Film rights to the historical events and directed by veteran Delbert Mann brought in as early as 1982, a film adaptation of the incredible story to the cinema. First of all, in the USA, a week later, also in Germany – at that time, a memorable Premiere, which also caused for political explosives.
So the team in 1982 and appeared in the Hollywood Film “Night Crossing”…
“Night Crossing” (original title, in Germany the Film ran under the title “With the Wind to the West”) should run in 1982 actually, at the Berlin film festival, but Festival chief Moritz de Hadeln rejected the Film for artistic reasons. There is a wave of protest against this decision, especially from conservative circles was followed by, “cowardice before the enemy” scented. In the high times of the Cold war, the Premiere was a political issue.
Conservative press staged Premiere during Berlinale-opening
The Axel-Springer-group-held – on the day of the official Berlinale-opening – a spectacular Premiere of “Night Crossing” in Berlin. In the debate about the Film-a refusal by the Berlinale film festival was on at the time, even the then Federal President Richard von Weizsäcker. “Night Crossing” with Stars such as John Hurt and Jane Alexander but has left hardly any traces in the history of film.
…and so in Michael “Bully” Herbigs new Film “balloon”
The history of the German film and the cinematic reappraisal of the GDR-history will have to be with a “balloon” can not be rewritten. But Herbigs escape drama is, after all, a work that has enormous entertainment qualities. As a movie for the big audience balloon convinced “” just because he tells his Story in the best Hollywood manner – with a lot of dramaturgischem Drive, good actor performances, an effective voltage-dramaturgy and Sound Design that give the audience barely breaks.
A daring escape with a homemade balloon
The true story is well documented: Two married couples with children, wanted to settle at that time, with the help of a hot air balloon from East Germany and the insurmountable border fortifications on the ground, overcome. The balloon you made for yourself. Two Attempts failed, first of all, the third managed to escape. The Stasi had previously got Wind of the situation, to stop the flight of companies, not succeeded.
A Director, ernst: Michael “Bully” Herbig
Michael “Bully” Herbig, with various TV Comedy formats, and a few hyped-up cinema comedies (“The Shoe of Manitu”, “(T)raumschiff Surprise”) is one of the most successful entertainers in the country, embarks with “balloon” on completely new Terrain. He has made out of the fabric now, his first “serious” Film.
In parallel with concerns for respiratory montages-contact voltage
Three escape, in Herbig two, the plot is summarized for the two-hour movie, understandably, on a scenic height points. With some parallel montages, the Director succeeds to develop from the fabric to the film at the end of thrilling story.
The Stasi here by Thomas Kretschmann played a Stasi officer in “balloon” has an important role
The spectator remains up to the movie Finale of “balloon” in it – although Yes, it is clear that this escape – in contrast to many other ended in a fatal Attempt of a desperate GDR-citizens – happy. “Balloon” features cinema-grade DDR-history for a large audience. That Herbig on sophisticated voltage drama and Action and less on the subtle illumination of the environment and figures-Arsenal, one should not blame the Director.
Michael “Bully” Herbig, one who always has the big audience in the eye. His comedies almost always worked out. He will now succeed with his first “serious” Film (probably), too, deserves respect.