Wintersleepers (1997)

German screenwriter, producer, composer and director Tom Tykwer's second feature film which he co-wrote with author Anne-Francois Pyszora is an adaptation of her novel called "Expenses of Spirit". It was shot on location in Germany and is a Germany production which was produced by German producer Stefan Arndt. It tells the story about a nurse named Laura Kirsch who lives in an inherited house in a German village with her sister named Rebecca. After being reunited with her recent boyfriend named Marco, his new car is stolen and a man named Theo who lives on a farm with his wife and three children up in the mountains has to transport his daughter's beloved horse named Lissy to a veterinarian.Distinctly and engagingly directed by European filmmaker Tom Tykwer, this finely paced fictional tale which is narrated from multiple viewpoints, draws an intimate and moving portrayal of an amorous woman who loves literature and her relationship with her boyfriend who loves movies. While notable for it's naturalistic milieu depictions, sterling cinematography by German cinematographer Frank Griebe, production design by German production designer Uli Hanisch and introduction of it's central characters, this dialog-driven and narrative-driven story where a car accident has a man searching for the person he crashed with depicts several dense studies of character and contains a great score by long time collaborators Tom Tykwer, German composer Reinhold Heil and Australian composer Johnny Klimek.This romantic, coincidental and atmospheric drama from the late 1990s which is set in the Bavarian Alps during a winter and where a single woman receives a new patient at the hospital where she works and befriends a projectionist named René at a place called Sleeper's Bar, is impelled and reinforced by it's cogent narrative structure, subtle character development and continuity, brilliant editing and use of music, style of filmmaking and the fine acting performances by German actress Floriane Daniel, German-French actress Marie Lou-Sellem and German actors Ulrich Matthes, Heino Ferch and Josef Bierbichler. A somewhat surreal, imaginative and multifaceted character piece.

I decided to buy the DVD of Winterschläfer after watching the beautiful "Lola Rennt" and "Der Krieger Und Die Kaiserin" by Tom Tykwer, and it seems like it was a good decision. I can't say Winterschläfer is an excellent movie, nor can I say it was mediocre or bad. The reason being, after watching the movie, I still don't know what I think about it.. Odd but true. It's really unique, not the least bit like any other movie, including other Tom Tykwer movies. Yet another soul-crusher by Tykwer. The story is not exactly believable, but I sure did feel like I was inside the story, which usually means the film is successful. It captured me big time, and it'll most likely do the same to you or any other viewer. And you'll either love it or hate it; or start looking around stupidly with a wide open mouth just like me. I have to say the acting is EXCELLENT though. I kept telling myself what a jerk Marco is for being mean to a sweetheart like Rebecca. Only after seeing the credits, I remembered it was just a movie. Well, wrong, this is not just a movie. This is a unique experience. Although the story is extreme, and sort of unbelievable, the movie gives the viewer a bloody strong feeling that the story is taken from real life incidents. Recommended..

I've seen a lot of films. And I'm drawn to this genre, usually. But this film was dull and torturous and definitely not innovative. The characters were each very unbelievable. Realizing I'm in the minority on this one, to the other reviewers, I'm glad it gave you some pleasure. I won't try to change your taste in movies. However, if you're over thirty, and understand the concept of needing to 'like' or identify with at least one character in a film to be moved by it, good luck. Don't say I didn't warn you. PS - one of the biggest DVD disappointments this year.CH 2/5

This is the first I have seen of Tom Tykwer's work. In a word, outstanding. This movie has all the necessary elements for a successful production and ensures a completely entertaining evening. The opening (and what an opening!) sets the mood..... A chilly landscape of deep snow with helicopter shots racing across treetops heavily weighed down with a recent fall.....And the music with its tremulous monotone suggests impending drama. I wait expectantly.....Into the picture comes Rene. At first glance an odd-looking guy who suffers from a kind of amnesia. He knows his name and where he lives but can't remember anything else. That's why he photographs every little incident to jog his memory. Laura who works as a hospital nurse agrees he's a bit weird but is fascinated just the same. You get the feeling he's up to something.Her friend Rebecca, an attractive blond who works as a translator is having trouble with her boy friend Marco. He's so possessive. They congregate in Laura's house where much of the dialogue takes place. Rebecca and Marco are continually arguing, falling in and out of love. These scenes are exceptional.In some strange coincidence these four characters are in one way or another involved in the aftermath of a serious accident involving two cars swerving on the slippery highway. In one of the cars a farmer who is taking his horse float to the vet. is knocked unconscious. Later he is unable to convince the police that a second car was involved. So he sets out on a mission to find the other car and the man responsible for the death of his daughter who died in hospital as a result of the accident.Marco the skiing instructor has an eye for the girls and there are some exciting scenes on the ski slopes as they engage the treacherous terrain. It's a matter of "Hold tight!" as the skiers disappear into the foggy atmosphere.The snow bound landscape is for me a most unusual setting for the drama and I enjoyed every exciting minute. The ending left me almost open-mouthed! And I'm not telling!