Nowhere in Africa
Encyclopedia : N : NO : NOW : Nowhere in Africa
Nowhere in Africa (German title: Nirgendwo in Afrika) is a 2001 German-language film directed by Caroline Link. The film is about a Jewish family which emigrates to Kenya during World War II to escape the Nazis and run a farm. The film won an 2002 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. It is based on the autobiographical novel of the same name by Stefanie Zweig.
Tagline: Sometimes home is where you least expect it.
Plot
In 1938 the Redlich family flees to Kenya from Nazi Germany as persecution of Jews slowly increases. Walter, a former lawyer, finds work as a farm manager and sends for his family. His wife Jettel has trouble adjusting to life in Africa, although their daughter Regina quickly adapts to her new environment, easily learning the language of the country and showing interest in local culture. Regina soon forms a close friendship with the farm's cook, Owuor.
When war breaks out, the British round up all German citizens, and hold them, whether Jew or gentile, separating men from women. The Redlichs' marriage begins to deteriorate. Jettel sleeps with a German-speaking British soldier to secure work and a home on a farm for the family, and Regina and Walter both find out.
Walter decides to join the British army and wants Jettel to go to Nairobi with him, but she refuses and stays to run the farm with Owuor. By the end of the war, Jettel does not want to leave Africa, even though Walter is offered a position as a judge in post-war Germany.
Cast
- Juliane Köhler – Jettel Redlich
- Merab Ninidze – Walter Redlich
- Sidede Onyulo – Owuor
- Matthias Habich – Süsskind
- Lea Kurka – Regina (younger)
- Karoline Eckertz – Regina (older)
- Gerd Heinz – Max
- Hildegard Schmahl – Ina
- Maritta Horwarth – Liesel
- Regine Zimmermann – Käthe
- Gabrielle Odinis – Dienstmädchen Klara
- Bettina Redlich – Mrs. Sadler
- Julia Leidl – Inge
- Mechthild Grossmann – Elsa Konrad
- Joel Wajsberg – Hubert
Awards
- Deutscher Filmpreis ("German Film Award": "Golden Lola") 2002
- *Best Film
- *Best Cinematography: Gernot Roll
- *Best Director: Caroline Link
- *Best Music: Niki Reiser
- *Best Supporting Actor: Matthias Habich
- Bayerischer Filmpreis ("Bavarian Film Award") 2002
- *Best Production (Producer's Award)
- Bayerischer Filmpreis ("Bavarian Film Award") 2003
- *Public Award
- 74th Academy Awards
- *Best Foreign Language Film
External links
From Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Original article here. Support Wikipedia by contributing or donating.
All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License See Wikipedia Copyrights for details.