Germany - 1995
Directed by Joseph Vilsmaier
Filmed on location in the Austrian Alps and the Czech Republic, Brother of
Sleep is a beautiful film with a mystical quality unlike any other. Set around
1800, the film centers around Johannes Elias Alder, the illegitimate son of a priest who
is born with supernatural hearing and musical ability. The local populace are
intimidated by his strange gifts and attribute his powers to Satan. Elias falls in
love with the lovely Elsbeth, sister of his only friend, Peter.
When Elias comes to understand that he cannot marry Elsbeth, as she is engaged
to another and that his friend Peter has romantic love for him, he decides to deprive
himself of sleep, promising himself to never sleep again.
An enormous technical crew paid great attention to historical accuracy in terms
of costumes and sets (always appreciated). Beautiful cinematography and location
footage make this a film that commands your attention. For Brother of Sleep,
Joseph Vilsmaier won the Bavarian Film Award for Best Production (1996), and a Film Strip
in Silver Award from the German Film Awards for Shaping of a Feature Film (1996).
Regina Fritsch won the Fernando Rey Award from the San Sebastian International Film
Festival for her role as Hebamme, the midwife (1995).
Runtime: 127 Minutes


Back to Germany
All videos
available from 1-World Festival of Foreign Films are in VHS-NTSC and Region 1
DVD formats
A special foreign
film makes a distinctive gift!
Ordering online through 1-World Festival of Foreign Films is easy.
 
If you prefer to order
by mail, CLICK HERE!
|