Phoenix / Феникс

GERMANY
2014, 98 MIN.

Director Christian Petzold
Script Hubert Monteilhet, Harun Farocki, Christian Petzold
Camera Hans Fromm
Design Merlin Ortner, Kade Gruber
Music Stefan Will
Cast: Nina Hoss, Ronald Zehrfeld, Nina Kunzendorf, Michael Maertens, Imogen Kogge, Kirsten Block, Uwe Preuss
Producers Florian Koerner von Gustorf, Michael Weber
Production Schramm Film Koerner & Weber, Bayerischer Rundfunk, Westdeutscher Rundfunk, Arte

During the war Nelly Lenz survived in the concentration camp, but her face is badly mutilated. After a plastic surgery the woman goes back to Berlin to look for her beloved husband Johannes. But when she finally does find him, the latter won’t recognize his own wife because he is sure that she is dead. Still Johannes makes a business proposal to Nelly, suggesting that she pose as his wife in order to get what she inherited from her family. Nelly agrees…

CHRISTIAN PETZOLD
Born in 1960 in Hilden, Germany. After studying German and drama at the Freie Universität, he enrolls in Berlin's German Academy for Film and Television. There he studies movie direction while at same time working as assistant director to Harun Farocki and Hartmut Bitomsky. After graduation he makes a series of interesting TV films. In 2000, his first theatrical feature, “The State I Am In” (2000), is released and makes a strong impression and earning its director both the German Film Award and many other awards. Other his movies: “Wolfsburg” (2003, FIPRESCI Prize at the Berlin IFF), “Ghosts” (2005), “Yella” (2007, 2 prizes at the Berlin IFF), “Jerichow” (2008), “Barbara” (2012, Silver Berlin Bear and many other awards), etc.