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{{Short description|2017 film by Cate Shortland}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2017}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2017}}
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| name = Berlin Syndrome
| name = Berlin Syndrome
| image = Berlin Syndrome.jpg
| image = Berlin Syndrome.jpg
| border = no
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| caption = Theatrical film poster
| director = [[Cate Shortland]]
| director = [[Cate Shortland]]
⚫
| screenplay = [[Shaun Grant]]
⚫
| based_on = {{based on|''Berlin Syndrome''|Melanie Joosten}}
| producer = Polly Staniford
| producer = Polly Staniford
⚫
| writer = Shaun Grant
⚫
| based on = {{based on|''Berlin Syndrome''|Melanie Joosten}}
| starring = {{Plainlist|
| starring = {{Plainlist|
* [[Teresa Palmer]]
* [[Teresa Palmer]]
* [[Max Riemelt]]
* [[Max Riemelt]]
}}
}}
⚫
| music = Bryony Marks
| cinematography = Germain McMicking
| cinematography = Germain McMicking
| editing = Jack Hutchings
| editing = Jack Hutchings
| production companies = {{Plainlist|
| music = [[Bryony Marks]]
⚫
| studio = {{Plainlist|
* [[Screen Australia]]<ref name="BFI"/>
* [[Screen Australia]]<ref name="BFI"/>
* Aquarius Films
* [[Aquarius Films]]
* [[Film Victoria]]
* [[Film Victoria]]
* Memento Films International
* Memento Films International
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* Photoplay Films
* Photoplay Films
}}
}}
| distributor = Entertainment One (Australia)<br> [[Netflix]] (France)
| distributor = {{Plainlist|
* Entertainment One (Australia)
* [[Netflix]] (France)
}}
| released = {{Film date|2017|1|20|[[Sundance Film Festival|Sundance]]|2017|4|20|Australia|2017|8|27|France}}
| released = {{Film date|2017|1|20|[[2017 Sundance Film Festival|Sundance]]|2017|4|20|Australia|2017|8|27|France}}
| runtime = 116 minutes
| runtime = 116 minutes
| country = {{Plainlist|
⚫
| country = Australia<br> France<ref name="BFI">{{cite web|title=Berlin Syndrome (2016)|url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/59ba5b6829a8b|website=[[British Film Institute]]|accessdate=13 May 2018|language=en}}</ref>
* Australia
⚫
| language = English<br> German
⚫
* France<ref name="BFI">{{cite web|title=Berlin Syndrome (2016)|url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/59ba5b6829a8b|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171117090955/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/59ba5b6829a8b|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 November 2017|publisher=[[British Film Institute]]|access-date=10 March 2021}}</ref>
| budget =
}}
⚫
| gross = $788,191<ref name="NUM">{{cite web |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Berlin-Syndrome-(Australia)#tab=summary |title=''Berlin Syndrome'' (2017) |publisher=[[The Numbers (website)|The Numbers]]. Nash Information Services, LLC |accessdate=5 November 2018}}</ref>
⚫
| language = {{Plainlist|
* English
* German
}}
⚫
| gross = $788,191<ref name="NUM">{{cite web|url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Berlin-Syndrome-(Australia)#tab=summary|title=''Berlin Syndrome'' (2017)|website=[[The Numbers (website)|The Numbers]]|access-date=10 March 2021}}</ref>
}}
}}


'''''Berlin Syndrome''''' is a 2017 Australian-French [[psychological thriller]] film directed by [[Cate Shortland]], written by Shaun Grant and starring [[Teresa Palmer]] and [[Max Riemelt]]. The film is based on the novel of the same name by Melanie Joosten and tells the story of a young Australian photographer who travels to Germany, where she meets an attractive young German teacher. Waking up after a stormy night of passion with him, the photographer is suddenly taken hostage by her would-be lover.
'''''Berlin Syndrome''''' is a 2017 [[psychological horror]] [[thriller film|thriller]] film directed by [[Cate Shortland]] from a screenplay by Shaun Grant, based on the 2012 novel of the same name by Melanie Joosten. The film follows a young Australian photographer ([[Teresa Palmer]]) who travels to Germany, where she meets an attractive young English teacher ([[Max Riemelt]]). Waking up after a stormy night of passion with him, the photographer is suddenly taken hostage by her would-be lover.


''Berlin Syndrome'' had its world premiere at the [[Sundance Film Festival]] on 20 January 2017 and was released in Australia on 20 April 2017, by [[Entertainment One]].
''Berlin Syndrome'' had its world premiere at the [[2017 Sundance Film Festival|Sundance Film Festival]] on 20 January 2017 and was released in Australia on 20 April 2017 by [[Entertainment One]]. The film received very positive reviews from critics, with many praising the atmosphere, and the performances of Palmer and Riemelt.


==Plot==
==Plot==
Clare Havel ([[Teresa Palmer]]), a young Australian backpacker, is exploring Berlin when she meets a local man named Andi ([[Max Riemelt]]) and has a one-night stand with him. The next morning, however, Clare finds that Andi has locked her in his apartment.
<!-- Per WP:FILMPLOT, plot summaries for feature films should be between 400 to 700 words. -->In [[Berlin]], Australian backpacker and photographer Clare meets local English teacher Andi. They spend the day together, then have sex in Andi's apartment. The following morning, Clare finds herself locked in. Upon Andi's return, he says he forgot to leave a key, and she spends another night after they go out dancing.

Believing Andi forgot to leave her a key, Clare decides to stay with him another night. Soon, however, Clare realises Andi has no intention of ever letting her go, discovering that he has written the word ''{{lang|de|meine}}'' on her shoulder and stolen her [[SIM card]] from her phone.

Clare tries escaping by smashing the windows but discovers they are [[double pane]]d. To her amazement, when Andi comes home, he acts like nothing is wrong, offering her flowers and pesto. This causes an enraged Clare to attack him but he restrains and ties her to the bed.

While Clare is confined to his apartment, Andi goes to dinner with his father Erich and mentions that he's dating Clare. Andi's father asks what happened to his previous lover Natalie, and Andi tells him that she went back to Canada.

Erich mentions Andi's mother, prompting Andi to speak bitterly about how she defected to the west before the Berlin Wall came down. That night, when Andi lets Clare shower, she is horrified to find long blond hair clumped in the drain, and realises she is probably not his first victim. Clare asks Andi if he ever thinks about his previous girlfriends and he replies that he doesn't.

Meanwhile, Andi pretends that things are normal, cheerfully telling Clare, "I told my father about us" and "I texted your mother for you." Clare stabs Andi with a screwdriver and flees the apartment, but Andi catches up with her in the empty courtyard, bringing Clare back after breaking her hand as she tries to escape into another building.

One night, Franka, a student at the sports school where Andi teaches, shows up at his apartment. Andi verbally warns Clare that he will kill Franka if she gets to know that he is holding her prisoner. When Franka sees a flash of Clare in a towel, Andi tells her it's his girlfriend and insults Franka, causing her to leave.


The next day, Clare finds he has written ''{{lang|de|meine}}'' (German for 'mine') on her shoulder and taken the [[SIM card]] from her phone. Attempting to smash her way out the windows, she finds they are double-paned and reinforced with [[plexiglass]]. It dawns on her that the other apartments in the building are abandoned. When Andi returns, Clare begs him to let her go but he begins restraining her to the bed while he is at work, leaving her to soil herself.
Meanwhile, Andi continues with his bizarre behaviour, taking polaroids of Clare in disturbing positions and cutting off pieces of her hair. Some time later, Andi finds out his father has died in his sleep. A depressed Andi stays in his father's house for a week but Clare is left in the apartment with the power turned off. Unable to escape, a weakened Clare takes polaroids of herself and eats what is left of the food until Andi finally returns. Clare appears relieved as she thought he was not going to come back and comforts Andi for his loss, sleeping with him.


At dinner with his father, Erich, Andi tells him he is dating Clare. Erich asks what happened to his previous girlfriend Natalie, and Andi says she returned to Canada. That night, Andi lets Clare shower and she finds a clump of long blonde hair in the drain. Andi texts Clare's mother posing as her, informing her she is well.
As the holidays approach, Clare's mood brightens slightly: she learns to play the [[accordion]], along with baking and cleaning for Andi. For Christmas, Andi gives her books and his father's old dog, which he kills a few days later as he is jealous of their relationship.


Clare finds a screwdriver under the sofa and, when Andi comes home, she stabs him in the hand and flees the apartment. Andi catches her in the courtyard downstairs, breaking her fingers and bringing her back inside. Andi's student Franka shows up and flirts with him, but when she briefly spots Clare, Andi says she is his girlfriend and threatens to report her behaviour, causing her to leave.
Just after Christmas, Andi takes Clare out into the forest, planning to kill her with an axe. Before he does, a young boy cries out running toward them saying his brother has hurt his leg. Clare whispers to the boy to go get help, but he doesn’t understand English and is afraid of her.
After the boy's mother appears, Andi takes Clare home where she eventually breaks into a locked room within the apartment and finds a massage chair and a photo album filled with polaroids of what looks to be Natalie, whom Andi had presumably kidnapped and murdered before her. A man holding a flashlight sees Clare in one of the unboarded windows and attempts to rescue her. Andi comes home, however, and kills her would-be rescuer with a crowbar. Andi then forces Clare to help wrap the body in plastic, telling her it's her fault the man is dead. Andi takes the body outside and burns it.


Andi's bizarre behaviour continues, including taking pictures of Clare in disturbing positions, cutting off pieces of her hair, and retreating to a locked room. Depressed on finding his father has died, he spends a week at his father's house, leaving Clare in the apartment with the power off. When he returns, she comforts him and they have sex. As the holidays approach, Clare's mood seems to brighten; she learns to play the [[accordion]] and bakes treats for Andi. He gifts her his father's dog, but days later becomes jealous of their bond and kills him.
More time passes as Clare is held prisoner. Andi sees a missing person's ad of Clare in the newspaper, which includes a photo of her. He tells her to pack her things into a backpack under the pretense that he is having the flat fumigated. Seeing a stack of workbooks that Andi is grading, Clare intentionally burns her hand on the stove and steals one of them when Andi leaves the room to get her ointment.


Andi takes Clare outside for the first time in months, to a forest where he plans to kill her with an axe. They are interrupted by two young boys, one of whom has injured his leg. Clare quietly begs the other to get help but he doesn't understand English. On New Year's Eve, Andi attends a work party and Clare breaks into the locked room and finds photo albums of a blonde woman. A man outside shines a flashlight at the windows; she screams for help and he attempts to rescue her, but Andi returns and kills him with a crowbar. Andi has Clare help him wrap the body in plastic, saying it's her fault he is dead. He burns the body in a dumpster in the courtyard.
Later, Andi leaves for the final time, turning the power and water off as he goes. At work, Andi hands out his students' workbooks, including Franka's. Inside hers, Franka discovers a polaroid of a bound Clare that she had hidden for Franka to find.


More time passes and Clare apparently enjoys life with Andi. Reading a newspaper report about Clare being missing, Andi plans to kill her by dehydration after he shuts the water off. When she sees him grading student's workbooks, she hides a photograph in Franka's. Franka finds the picture of Clare bound and gagged. She flees the room and drops the picture, which is passed around by the other students. When Andi realises what is happening, he leaves the school in a panic. He arrives home to find the courtyard door open and the locked box of Clare's possessions open and empty. Franka has ridden her bike to the apartment and found Clare just before Andi arrives. Clare lures Andi in, hiding on the floor above his apartment. When he goes into the apartment, she calls his name and, before he can react, she locks him inside, leaving him suffer the fate he planned for her. Clare rescues Franka who hides in a cupboard in the apartment above.
As Franka leaves the classroom in shock, the polaroid falls to the floor and is discovered and passed around by the other students. Andi quickly realises that he has been exposed and leaves in a panic, speeding back to his house. Franka rides her bike to the apartment and finds Clare just before Andi arrives.


Clare rides free in a cab through Berlin's streets finally free of Andi.
In hiding with Franka, Clare is finally able to lure Andi into the part of the house where he had kept her and locks him in. She retrieves a baggy of her personal documents, including the necklace given to her by her mother. The last moments of the film show Andi accepting his fate trapped in his apartment and Clare taking a taxi through the city.


==Cast==
==Cast==
{{Cast listing|
* [[Teresa Palmer]] as Clare Havel
* [[Max Riemelt]] as Andi Werner
* [[Teresa Palmer]] as Clare Havel, a photographer
* [[Max Riemelt]] as Andi Werner, an English teacher
* [[Matthias Habich]] as Erich Werner, Andi's father
* [[Matthias Habich]] as Erich Werner, Andi's father
* Emma Bading as Franka Hummels
* [[Emma Bading]] as Franka Hummels, student of Andi Werner
* Elmira Bahrami as Jana
* Elmira Bahrami as Jana
* Christoph Franken as Peter
* Christoph Franken as Peter
Line 86: Line 81:
* Thuso Lekwape as Billy Dharma
* Thuso Lekwape as Billy Dharma
* Nassim Avat as Aron Hurwitz
* Nassim Avat as Aron Hurwitz
}}


==Production==
==Production==
[[File:MJK34505 Polly Staniford, Max Riemelt and Cate Shortland (Berlin Syndrome, Berlinale 2017).jpg|thumb|Producer Polly Staniford, actor [[Max Riemelt]] and director [[Cate Shortland]] at the [[Berlinale 2017]]]]
[[File:MJK34505 Polly Staniford, Max Riemelt and Cate Shortland (Berlin Syndrome, Berlinale 2017).jpg|thumb|Producer Polly Staniford, actor [[Max Riemelt]] and director [[Cate Shortland]] at the [[Berlinale 2017]]]]
The film is based on the novel of the same name by Melanie Joosten, and the title is a reference to [[Stockholm syndrome]]. According to director [[Cate Shortland]], the character of Andi had romanticised and idealised the East Germany of his childhood, and wanted to recreate a utopia in his own life.<ref name="rbb">{{cite news|last=Brunner|first=Ula|title=Ich fühle mich gleichzeitig fremd und vertraut hier|url=http://www.rbb-online.de/kultur/berlinale/beitraege/2017/interview-berlin-syndrome-kate-shortland-panorama.html|accessdate=4 June 2017|publisher=[[Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg]]|date=16 February 2017|language=de}}</ref>
The film is based on the novel of the same name by Melanie Joosten, and the title is a reference to [[Stockholm syndrome]]. According to director [[Cate Shortland]], the character of Andi had romanticised and idealised the East Germany of his childhood, and wanted to recreate a utopia in his own life.<ref name="rbb">{{cite news|last=Brunner|first=Ula|title=Ich fühle mich gleichzeitig fremd und vertraut hier|url=https://www.rbb24.de/kultur/berlinale/beitraege/2017/interview-berlin-syndrome-kate-shortland-panorama.html|access-date=10 March 2021|publisher=[[Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg]]|date=16 February 2017|language=de|archive-date=9 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909010430/http://www.rbb24.de/kultur/berlinale/beitraege/2017/interview-berlin-syndrome-kate-shortland-panorama.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>


In May 2015, [[Teresa Palmer]] and [[Max Riemelt]] joined the cast.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Jagernauth|first1=Kevin|title=Teresa Palmer To Lead Cate Shortland's 'Berlin Syndrome'|url=http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/teresa-palmer-to-lead-cate-shortlands-berlin-syndrome-20150515|accessdate=19 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151019234038/http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/teresa-palmer-to-lead-cate-shortlands-berlin-syndrome-20150515|archive-date=19 October 2015|dead-url=yes}}</ref> Riemelt was chosen from a shortlist of 10 male actors; Shortland felt he best portrayed the lack of shame of a true sociopath.<ref name="rbb"/>
In May 2015, [[Teresa Palmer]] and [[Max Riemelt]] joined the cast.<ref>{{cite web |last=Jagernauth |first=Kevin |date=15 May 2015 |title=Teresa Palmer To Lead Cate Shortland's 'Berlin Syndrome' |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2015/05/teresa-palmer-to-lead-cate-shortlands-berlin-syndrome-263979/ |access-date=10 March 2021 |website=[[IndieWire]]}}</ref> Riemelt was chosen from a shortlist of 10 male actors.<ref name="rbb"/>


===Filming===
===Filming===
Production began in September 2015 in Berlin.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-3253043/Teresa-Palmer-make-free-swaddled-against-cold-quilted-jacket-film-set-Berlin-Syndrome.html|title=Is it all catching up? A tired-looking Teresa Palmer is make-up free and braced against the cold in a voluminous quilted jacket as she films Berlin Syndrome|website=[[Daily Mail]]|first=Danielle|last=Gusmaroli|date=29 September 2015|accessdate=13 January 2017}}</ref> For two weeks prior to filming, Palmer and Riemelt stayed together in a small apartment similar to the one on the set.<ref name="rbb"/>
Production began in September 2015 in Berlin. For two weeks prior to filming, Palmer and Riemelt stayed together in a small apartment similar to the one on the set.<ref name="rbb"/>


In November 2015, filming moved to [[Docklands Studios Melbourne]] in Australia.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thelowdownunder.com/2015/11/04/cate-shortlands-new-film-berlin-syndrome-starts-shooting-in-melbourne/|title=CATE SHORTLAND'S NEW FILM "BERLIN SYNDROME" STARTS SHOOTING IN MELBOURNE|website=The Low Down Under|author=AZA|date=4 November 2015|accessdate=13 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170908202033/http://thelowdownunder.com/2015/11/04/cate-shortlands-new-film-berlin-syndrome-starts-shooting-in-melbourne/|archive-date=8 September 2017|dead-url=yes}}</ref>
In November 2015, filming moved to [[Docklands Studios Melbourne]] in Australia.<ref>{{cite web |author= |date=4 November 2015 |title=Cate Shortland's New Film "Berlin Syndrome" Starts Shooting In Melbourne |url=http://thelowdownunder.com/2015/11/04/cate-shortlands-new-film-berlin-syndrome-starts-shooting-in-melbourne/ |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170908202033/http://thelowdownunder.com/2015/11/04/cate-shortlands-new-film-berlin-syndrome-starts-shooting-in-melbourne/ |archivedate=8 September 2017 |access-date=13 January 2017 |website=The Low Down Under}}</ref>


==Release==
==Release==
The film had its world premiere at the [[Sundance Film Festival]] on 20 January 2017.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Debruge|first1=Peter|title=Sundance Film Festival Unveils 2017 Competition, Next Lineups|url=https://variety.com/2016/film/news/sundance-film-festival-2017-movies-lineup-dramatic-competition-next-documentary-1201929581/|accessdate=1 December 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sundance.org/projects/berlin-syndrome|title=Berlin Syndrome|website=[[Sundance Film Festival]]|accessdate=13 January 2017}}</ref> Prior to [[Entertainment One]], [[Curzon Artificial Eye]], [[Vertical Entertainment]] and [[Netflix]] acquired Australian, United Kingdom, United States distribution rights, respectively.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Fleming Jr.|first1=Mike|title=Vertical & Netflix Acquire Sundance Pic 'Berlin Syndrome'|url=http://deadline.com/2017/01/berlin-syndrome-sundance-film-festival-vertical-entertainment-netflix-1201885423/|accessdate=13 January 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.screendaily.com/news/artificial-eye-snaps-up-palmer-starring-berlin-syndrome/5096475.article|title=Artificial Eye snaps up Palmer-starring 'Berlin Syndrome'|website=[[Screen International]]|first=Melanie|last=Goodfellow|date=5 November 2015|accessdate=13 January 2017}}</ref> It was released in Australia on 20 April,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://villagecinemas.com.au/movies/berlin-syndrome|title=Berlin Syndrome|website=Village Cinemas|accessdate=28 February 2017}}</ref> in the United States on 5 May,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.varietyinsight.com/featurefilm_releases.php?limit=20&offset=100&currenttotal=&DO=&from_date=&sort=|title=Berlin Syndrome|website=[[Variety Insight]]|accessdate=28 February 2017}}</ref> and in the United Kingdom on 9 June 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.launchingfilms.com/release-schedule|title=Berlin Syndrome|website=Launching Films|accessdate=28 February 2017}}</ref>
The film had its world premiere at the [[Sundance Film Festival]] on 20 January 2017.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Debruge |first1=Peter |date=30 November 2016 |title=Sundance Film Festival Unveils 2017 Competition, Next Lineups |url=https://variety.com/2016/film/festivals/sundance-film-festival-2017-movies-lineup-dramatic-competition-next-documentary-1201929581/ |access-date=10 March 2021 |website=Variety}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Berlin Syndrome |url=http://www.sundance.org/projects/berlin-syndrome |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200628042228/https://www.sundance.org/projects/berlin-syndrome |archive-date=28 June 2020 |access-date=10 March 2021 |website=[[Sundance Film Festival]]}}</ref> Prior to [[Entertainment One]], [[Curzon Film|Curzon Artificial Eye]], [[Vertical Entertainment]] and [[Netflix]] acquired Australian, United Kingdom, and United States distribution rights, respectively.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |last=Fleming |first=Mike Jr. |date=13 January 2017 |title=Vertical & Netflix Acquire Sundance Pic 'Berlin Syndrome' |url=https://deadline.com/2017/01/berlin-syndrome-sundance-film-festival-vertical-entertainment-netflix-1201885423/ |access-date=10 March 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/artificial-eye-snaps-up-palmer-starring-berlin-syndrome/5096475.article|title=Artificial Eye snaps up Palmer-starring 'Berlin Syndrome'|website=[[Screen International]]|first=Melanie|last=Goodfellow|date=5 November 2015|access-date=10 March 2021}}</ref> It was released in Australia on 20 April,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://villagecinemas.com.au/movies/berlin-syndrome|title=Berlin Syndrome|website=Village Cinemas|access-date=28 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170301092900/http://villagecinemas.com.au/movies/berlin-syndrome|archive-date=1 March 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> in the United States on 26 May,<ref>{{cite web |last=Gallagher |first=Brian |date=March 29, 2017 |title=Berlin Syndrome Trailer Has Teresa Palmer Trapped by a Maniac |url=https://movieweb.com/berlin-syndrome-trailer/ |access-date=16 December 2022 |website=[[MovieWeb]]}}</ref> and in the United Kingdom on 9 June 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.launchingfilms.com/release-schedule|title=Berlin Syndrome|website=Launching Films|access-date=28 February 2017|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170301010010/http://www.launchingfilms.com/release-schedule|archivedate=1 March 2017}}</ref>


==Reception==
==Reception==
===Box office===
===Box office===
''Berlin Syndrome'' has grossed $28,660 in the United States and Canada, and $759,531 in other territories, for a total worldwide gross of $788,191, sales of its DVD/Blu-ray releases have cashed $22,663.<ref name=NUM/>
''Berlin Syndrome'' has grossed $28,660 in the United States and Canada, and $759,531 in other territories, for a total worldwide gross of $788,191. Sales of its DVD/Blu-ray releases have cashed $22,663.<ref name=NUM/>


===Critical response===
===Critical response===
''Berlin Syndrome'' was met with positive reviews. On [[review aggregator]] [[Rotten Tomatoes]], the film holds an approval rating of 74% based on 85 reviews, and an [[average rating]] of 6.41/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "''Berlin Syndrome'' offers thriller fans an uncommonly well-written descent into dangerous obsession, enlivened by taut direction and a committed performance from Teresa Palmer."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/berlin_syndrome|title=Berlin Syndrome (2017) |work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |publisher=[[Fandango (company)|Fandango Media]] |accessdate=July 25, 2019}}</ref> On [[Metacritic]], the film has a weighted average score of 70 out of 100, based on 17 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.metacritic.com/movie/berlin-syndrome |title=Berlin Syndrome Reviews |work=[[Metacritic]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |accessdate=March 8, 2018}}</ref>
''Berlin Syndrome'' was met with positive reviews. On [[review aggregator]] [[Rotten Tomatoes]], the film holds an approval rating of 76% based on 90 reviews, and an average rating of 6.5/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "''Berlin Syndrome'' offers thriller fans an uncommonly well-written descent into dangerous obsession, enlivened by taut direction and a committed performance from Teresa Palmer."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/berlin_syndrome|title=Berlin Syndrome (2017)|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|date=26 May 2017 |publisher=[[Fandango Media]]|access-date=10 March 2021}}</ref> On [[Metacritic]], the film has a weighted average score of 70 out of 100, based on 17 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/berlin-syndrome|title=Berlin Syndrome Reviews|website=[[Metacritic]]|publisher=[[CBS Interactive]]|access-date=10 March 2021}}</ref>


===Accolades===
===Accolades===
{| class="wikitable"
{| class=wikitable
|-
|-
! Award
!Award
! Category
!Category
! Subject
!Subject
! Result
!Result
|-
|-
|rowspan=8|[[AACTA Awards]]<br><small>([[7th AACTA Awards|7th]])</small>
|rowspan=8|[[AACTA Awards]]<br><small>([[7th AACTA Awards|7th]])</small><ref>{{Cite web |title=Winners & Nominees - 7th AACTA Awards |url=https://www.aacta.org/aacta-awards/winners-and-nominees/ |access-date=2022-12-16 |website=www.aacta.org |language=en-AU}}</ref>
|[[AACTA Award for Best Film|Best Film]]
|[[AACTA Award for Best Film|Best Film]]
|Polly Staniford
|Polly Staniford
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|-
|-
|[[AACTA Award for Best Original Music Score|Best Original Music Score]]
|[[AACTA Award for Best Original Music Score|Best Original Music Score]]
|Bryony Marks
|[[Bryony Marks]]
|{{nom}}
|{{nom}}
|-
|-
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|{{nom}}
|{{nom}}
|-
|-
|rowspan=5|[[Australian Film Critics Association|AFCA Awards]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=AFCA 2018 Film & Writing Awards |url=http://www.auscritic.com/afca-2018-film--writing-awards.html |access-date=2022-12-16 |website=Australian Film Critics Association |language=en |archive-date=24 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181224185106/http://www.auscritic.com/afca-2018-film--writing-awards.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|rowspan=5|[[Australian Film Critics Association|AFCA Awards]]
|Best Film
|Best Film
|Berlin Syndrome
|Berlin Syndrome
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|{{nom}}
|{{nom}}
|-
|-
|rowspan=2|[[Australian Screen Sound Guild|ASSG Award]]
|rowspan=2|[[Australian Screen Sound Guild|ASSG Award]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Berlin Syndrome |url=https://www.aquariusfilms.com.au/berlin-syndrome |access-date=2022-12-16 |website=Aquarius Films |language=en-AU}}</ref>
|Best Achievement in Sound for Film Sound Recording
|Best Achievement in Sound for Film Sound Recording
|Dane Cody, Auryn Lacy, Steffen Graubaum, Felix Kaufmann & Tom Herdman
|Dane Cody, Auryn Lacy, Steffen Graubaum, Felix Kaufmann, Tom Herdman
|{{nom}}
|{{nom}}
|-
|-
|Best Achievement in Sound for Film Sound Mixing
|Best Achievement in Sound for Film Sound Mixing
|Sam Gain-Emery, Phil Heywood (re-recording mixer) & Glenn Humphries
|Sam Gain-Emery, Phil Heywood (re-recording mixer) , Glenn Humphries
|{{nom}}
|{{nom}}
|-
|-
|[[AWGIE Awards|AWGIE Award]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-08-01 |title=Shaun Grant. Award Winning Writer, Jasper Jones & Berlin Syndrome |url=https://theflemingagency.com.au/tfas-shaun-grant-nominated-2-awgie-awards/ |access-date=2022-12-16 |website=The Fleming Agency}}</ref>
|[[AWGIE Awards|AWGIE Award]]
|Best Writing in a Feature Film - Adaptation
|Best Writing in a Feature Film - Adaptation
|Shaun Grant
|Shaun Grant
|{{nom}}
|{{nom}}
|-
|-
|[[Dallas International Film Festival]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hunter |first=Rob |date=2017-03-26 |title=11th Dallas International Film Festival Offers a Lineup Movies New and the Old |url=https://filmschoolrejects.com/dallas-international-film-festival-2017-10a137afe4e7/ |access-date=2022-12-16 |website=Film School Rejects |language=en-US}}</ref>
|[[Dallas International Film Festival]]
|Grand Jury Prize - Narrative Feature Competition
|Grand Jury Prize - Narrative Feature Competition
|Cate Shortland
|Cate Shortland
|{{nom}}
|{{nom}}
|-
|-
|rowspan=6|[[Film Critics Circle of Australia|FCCA Awards]]
|rowspan=6|[[Film Critics Circle of Australia|FCCA Awards]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=2017 Awards |url=https://fcca.com.au/previous_awards/2017-award-nominees/ |access-date=2022-12-16 |website=[[Film Critics Circle of Australia]]}}</ref>
|Best Film
|Best Film
|Polly Staniford
|Polly Staniford [[Aquarius Films]]
|{{nom}}
|{{nom}}
|-
|-
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|-
|-
|Best Original Score
|Best Original Score
|Bryony Marks
|[[Bryony Marks]]
|{{won}}
|{{won}}
|-
|-
Line 214: Line 210:
|{{nom}}
|{{nom}}
|-
|-
|[[Sundance Film Festival]]
|[[Sundance Film Festival]]<ref name=":0" />
|Grand Jury Prize - World Cinema — Dramatic
|Grand Jury Prize - World Cinema — Dramatic
|Cate Shortland
|Cate Shortland
Line 221: Line 217:


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
{{Commonscat|Berlin Syndrome (film)}}
{{Commons category|Berlin Syndrome (film)}}
* {{IMDb title}}
* {{IMDb title}}
* {{AllMovie title}}
* {{AllMovie title}}
* {{Mojo title}}


{{Cate Shortland}}
{{Cate Shortland}}


[[Category:2017 films]]
[[Category:2017 films]]
[[Category:2017 horror films]]
[[Category:2017 horror thriller films]]
[[Category:Australian drama films]]
[[Category:2017 independent films]]
[[Category:Australian films]]
[[Category:2017 multilingual films]]
[[Category:Australian thriller films]]
[[Category:2017 psychological thriller films]]
[[Category:Australian horror films]]
[[Category:2010s Australian films]]
[[Category:Casual sex in films]]
[[Category:2010s English-language films]]
[[Category:English-language films]]
[[Category:2010s French films]]
[[Category:Entertainment One films]]
[[Category:2010s German-language films]]
[[Category:Films about abduction]]
[[Category:2010s psychological horror films]]
[[Category:Australian horror thriller films]]
[[Category:Australian multilingual films]]
[[Category:French horror thriller films]]
[[Category:French psychological horror films]]
[[Category:French psychological thriller films]]
[[Category:French multilingual films]]
[[Category:Lionsgate Canada films]]
[[Category:Films about journalists]]
[[Category:Films about journalists]]
[[Category:Films about kidnapping]]
[[Category:Films about vacationing]]
[[Category:Films about vacationing]]
[[Category:Films about casual sex]]
[[Category:Films based on Australian novels]]
[[Category:Films based on horror novels]]
[[Category:Films based on thriller novels]]
[[Category:Films directed by Cate Shortland]]
[[Category:Films directed by Cate Shortland]]
[[Category:Films set in apartment buildings]]
[[Category:Films set in Berlin]]
[[Category:Films set in Berlin]]
[[Category:2010s psychological horror films]]
[[Category:Films shot in Berlin]]
[[Category:Vertical Entertainment films]]
[[Category:Films shot in Melbourne]]
[[Category:Films based on Australian novels]]
[[Category:German-language French films]]
[[Category:English-language French films]]
[[Category:Films scored by Bryony Marks]]
[[Category:English-language horror thriller films]]
[[Category:English-language independent films]]

Latest revision as of 02:34, 14 October 2024

Berlin Syndrome
Theatrical release poster
Directed byCate Shortland
Screenplay byShaun Grant
Based onBerlin Syndrome
by Melanie Joosten
Produced byPolly Staniford
Starring
CinematographyGermain McMicking
Edited byJack Hutchings
Music byBryony Marks
Production
companies
Distributed by
  • Entertainment One (Australia)
  • Netflix (France)
Release dates
  • January 20, 2017 (2017-01-20) (Sundance)
  • April 20, 2017 (2017-04-20) (Australia)
  • August 27, 2017 (2017-08-27) (France)
Running time
116 minutes
Countries
  • Australia
  • France[1]
Languages
  • English
  • German
Box office$788,191[2]

Berlin Syndrome is a 2017 psychological horror thriller film directed by Cate Shortland from a screenplay by Shaun Grant, based on the 2012 novel of the same name by Melanie Joosten. The film follows a young Australian photographer (Teresa Palmer) who travels to Germany, where she meets an attractive young English teacher (Max Riemelt). Waking up after a stormy night of passion with him, the photographer is suddenly taken hostage by her would-be lover.

Berlin Syndrome had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on 20 January 2017 and was released in Australia on 20 April 2017 by Entertainment One. The film received very positive reviews from critics, with many praising the atmosphere, and the performances of Palmer and Riemelt.

Plot

[edit]

In Berlin, Australian backpacker and photographer Clare meets local English teacher Andi. They spend the day together, then have sex in Andi's apartment. The following morning, Clare finds herself locked in. Upon Andi's return, he says he forgot to leave a key, and she spends another night after they go out dancing.

The next day, Clare finds he has written meine (German for 'mine') on her shoulder and taken the SIM card from her phone. Attempting to smash her way out the windows, she finds they are double-paned and reinforced with plexiglass. It dawns on her that the other apartments in the building are abandoned. When Andi returns, Clare begs him to let her go but he begins restraining her to the bed while he is at work, leaving her to soil herself.

At dinner with his father, Erich, Andi tells him he is dating Clare. Erich asks what happened to his previous girlfriend Natalie, and Andi says she returned to Canada. That night, Andi lets Clare shower and she finds a clump of long blonde hair in the drain. Andi texts Clare's mother posing as her, informing her she is well.

Clare finds a screwdriver under the sofa and, when Andi comes home, she stabs him in the hand and flees the apartment. Andi catches her in the courtyard downstairs, breaking her fingers and bringing her back inside. Andi's student Franka shows up and flirts with him, but when she briefly spots Clare, Andi says she is his girlfriend and threatens to report her behaviour, causing her to leave.

Andi's bizarre behaviour continues, including taking pictures of Clare in disturbing positions, cutting off pieces of her hair, and retreating to a locked room. Depressed on finding his father has died, he spends a week at his father's house, leaving Clare in the apartment with the power off. When he returns, she comforts him and they have sex. As the holidays approach, Clare's mood seems to brighten; she learns to play the accordion and bakes treats for Andi. He gifts her his father's dog, but days later becomes jealous of their bond and kills him.

Andi takes Clare outside for the first time in months, to a forest where he plans to kill her with an axe. They are interrupted by two young boys, one of whom has injured his leg. Clare quietly begs the other to get help but he doesn't understand English. On New Year's Eve, Andi attends a work party and Clare breaks into the locked room and finds photo albums of a blonde woman. A man outside shines a flashlight at the windows; she screams for help and he attempts to rescue her, but Andi returns and kills him with a crowbar. Andi has Clare help him wrap the body in plastic, saying it's her fault he is dead. He burns the body in a dumpster in the courtyard.

More time passes and Clare apparently enjoys life with Andi. Reading a newspaper report about Clare being missing, Andi plans to kill her by dehydration after he shuts the water off. When she sees him grading student's workbooks, she hides a photograph in Franka's. Franka finds the picture of Clare bound and gagged. She flees the room and drops the picture, which is passed around by the other students. When Andi realises what is happening, he leaves the school in a panic. He arrives home to find the courtyard door open and the locked box of Clare's possessions open and empty. Franka has ridden her bike to the apartment and found Clare just before Andi arrives. Clare lures Andi in, hiding on the floor above his apartment. When he goes into the apartment, she calls his name and, before he can react, she locks him inside, leaving him suffer the fate he planned for her. Clare rescues Franka who hides in a cupboard in the apartment above.

Clare rides free in a cab through Berlin's streets finally free of Andi.

Cast

[edit]
  • Teresa Palmer as Clare Havel, a photographer
  • Max Riemelt as Andi Werner, an English teacher
  • Matthias Habich as Erich Werner, Andi's father
  • Emma Bading as Franka Hummels, student of Andi Werner
  • Elmira Bahrami as Jana
  • Christoph Franken as Peter
  • Lara Marie Müller as Silke
  • Viktor Baschmakov as Benni
  • Mascha Wolf as Mascha
  • Matthias Russel as Jakob
  • Lucie Aron as Elodie Zadikan
  • Morgane Ferru as Jesie Lamarque
  • Thuso Lekwape as Billy Dharma
  • Nassim Avat as Aron Hurwitz

Production

[edit]
Producer Polly Staniford, actor Max Riemelt and director Cate Shortland at the Berlinale 2017

The film is based on the novel of the same name by Melanie Joosten, and the title is a reference to Stockholm syndrome. According to director Cate Shortland, the character of Andi had romanticised and idealised the East Germany of his childhood, and wanted to recreate a utopia in his own life.[3]

In May 2015, Teresa Palmer and Max Riemelt joined the cast.[4] Riemelt was chosen from a shortlist of 10 male actors.[3]

Filming

[edit]

Production began in September 2015 in Berlin. For two weeks prior to filming, Palmer and Riemelt stayed together in a small apartment similar to the one on the set.[3]

In November 2015, filming moved to Docklands Studios Melbourne in Australia.[5]

Release

[edit]

The film had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on 20 January 2017.[6][7] Prior to Entertainment One, Curzon Artificial Eye, Vertical Entertainment and Netflix acquired Australian, United Kingdom, and United States distribution rights, respectively.[8][9] It was released in Australia on 20 April,[10] in the United States on 26 May,[11] and in the United Kingdom on 9 June 2017.[12]

Reception

[edit]

Box office

[edit]

Berlin Syndrome has grossed $28,660 in the United States and Canada, and $759,531 in other territories, for a total worldwide gross of $788,191. Sales of its DVD/Blu-ray releases have cashed $22,663.[2]

Critical response

[edit]

Berlin Syndrome was met with positive reviews. On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 76% based on 90 reviews, and an average rating of 6.5/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Berlin Syndrome offers thriller fans an uncommonly well-written descent into dangerous obsession, enlivened by taut direction and a committed performance from Teresa Palmer."[13] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 70 out of 100, based on 17 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[14]

Accolades

[edit]
Award Category Subject Result
AACTA Awards
(7th)[15] 		Best Film Polly Staniford Nominated
Best Direction Cate Shortland Nominated
Best Adapted Screenplay Shaun Grant Nominated
Best Actress Teresa Palmer Nominated
Best Editing Jack Hutchings Nominated
Best Original Music Score Bryony Marks Nominated
Best Production Design Melinda Doring Nominated
Best Costume Design Maria Pattison Nominated
AFCA Awards[16] Best Film Berlin Syndrome Nominated
Best Director Cate Shortland Nominated
Best Actress Teresa Palmer Nominated
Best Screenplay Shaun Grant Nominated
Best Cinematography Germain McMicking Nominated
ASSG Award[17] Best Achievement in Sound for Film Sound Recording Dane Cody, Auryn Lacy, Steffen Graubaum, Felix Kaufmann, Tom Herdman Nominated
Best Achievement in Sound for Film Sound Mixing Sam Gain-Emery, Phil Heywood (re-recording mixer) , Glenn Humphries Nominated
AWGIE Award[18] Best Writing in a Feature Film - Adaptation Shaun Grant Nominated
Dallas International Film Festival[19] Grand Jury Prize - Narrative Feature Competition Cate Shortland Nominated
FCCA Awards[20] Best Film Polly Staniford Aquarius Films Nominated
Best Director Cate Shortland Nominated
Best Actress Teresa Palmer Nominated
Best Cinematography Germain McMicking Nominated
Best Original Score Bryony Marks Won
Best Editing Jack Hutchings Nominated
Sundance Film Festival[8] Grand Jury Prize - World Cinema — Dramatic Cate Shortland Nominated

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Berlin Syndrome (2016)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 17 November 2017. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Berlin Syndrome (2017)". The Numbers. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  3. ^ a b c Brunner, Ula (16 February 2017). "Ich fühle mich gleichzeitig fremd und vertraut hier" (in German). Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg. Archived from the original on 9 September 2017. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  4. ^ Jagernauth, Kevin (15 May 2015). "Teresa Palmer To Lead Cate Shortland's 'Berlin Syndrome'". IndieWire. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  5. ^ "Cate Shortland's New Film "Berlin Syndrome" Starts Shooting In Melbourne". The Low Down Under. 4 November 2015. Archived from the original on 8 September 2017. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  6. ^ Debruge, Peter (30 November 2016). "Sundance Film Festival Unveils 2017 Competition, Next Lineups". Variety. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  7. ^ "Berlin Syndrome". Sundance Film Festival. Archived from the original on 28 June 2020. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  8. ^ a b Fleming, Mike Jr. (13 January 2017). "Vertical & Netflix Acquire Sundance Pic 'Berlin Syndrome'". Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  9. ^ Goodfellow, Melanie (5 November 2015). "Artificial Eye snaps up Palmer-starring 'Berlin Syndrome'". Screen International. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  10. ^ "Berlin Syndrome". Village Cinemas. Archived from the original on 1 March 2017. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  11. ^ Gallagher, Brian (29 March 2017). "Berlin Syndrome Trailer Has Teresa Palmer Trapped by a Maniac". MovieWeb. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  12. ^ "Berlin Syndrome". Launching Films. Archived from the original on 1 March 2017. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  13. ^ "Berlin Syndrome (2017)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. 26 May 2017. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  14. ^ "Berlin Syndrome Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  15. ^ "Winners & Nominees - 7th AACTA Awards". www.aacta.org. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  16. ^ "AFCA 2018 Film & Writing Awards". Australian Film Critics Association. Archived from the original on 24 December 2018. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  17. ^ "Berlin Syndrome". Aquarius Films. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  18. ^ "Shaun Grant. Award Winning Writer, Jasper Jones & Berlin Syndrome". The Fleming Agency. 1 August 2016. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  19. ^ Hunter, Rob (26 March 2017). "11th Dallas International Film Festival Offers a Lineup Movies New and the Old". Film School Rejects. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  20. ^ "2017 Awards". Film Critics Circle of Australia. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
[edit]
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