Nirgendwo in Afrika (2001)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nirgendwo in Afrika is a German historical drama which is based on a true story: the story of a Jewish family who left Germany in 1938 and who found a sanctuary in an unusual place: in Kenya, which was at the time a part of the British colonial empire.

 

The drama premiered in 2001 and was released on DVD in 2003.

 

Here is some basic information about it:

** English title: Nowhere in Africa

** Written and directed by Caroline Link

** Based on the book Nirgendwo in Afrika by Stefanie Zweig (German edition 1995) (English edition, Nowhere in Africa, hardcover 2004, paperback 2007)

** Soundtrack: German and Swahili

** Subtitles: English

** Run time: 141 minutes

The cast includes the following:

** Juliane Köhler as Jettel Redlich - the mother
** Merab Ninidze as Walter Redlich - the father

** Lea Kurka as Regina - the daughter (as a child)
** Karoline Eckertz as Regina - the daughter (as a teenager)

** Sidede Onyulo as Owuor - the cook
** Matthias Habich as Süsskind - a friend 

 

The Redlich family left Germany in 1938. Walter went first in order to find a job and a place to stay. After a few months he had found both and he sent for the other members of the family: his wife and his daughter.

 

In Germany, Walter had been a lawyer and a judge. When Hitler and the Nazi Party came to power in 1933, he was no longer allowed to work as a judge.

 

In Kenya, he found a job as a manager of a farm. Walter knew nothing about farming, but he was determined to learn and most of all determined to survive.

In this movie, we see how Walter, Jettel and Regina cope with life in a new and very different place. The story of the family is told from the perspective of the daughter who is called Regina in the movie. Her real name is Stefanie Zweig (1932-2014).

 

The movie covers almost a decade. The story begins in 1938 when the family arrives in Kenya and ends in 1947 when the family moves back to Germany again.

 

This is a wonderful movie. It is captivating, dramatic and emotional. In addition, it is based on a true story. It was nominated for several awards and won several of them, including an Academy Award (an Oscar) in the category Best Foreign Language Film (2002).

 

What do reviewers say about it?

** Meta = 72 percent

** IMDb = 75 percent

** Rotten Tomatoes = 85 percent (the critics)

** Rotten Tomatoes = 88 percent (the audience)

 

The famous movie critic Roger Ebert (1942-2013) is so positive that he goes all the way to the top with this product: he offers four of four stars (100 per cent).

I often agree with Roger Ebert and this case is no exception. If you ask me, this historical drama deserves a rating of five stars (100 percent).

 

PS. The following article is available online:

 

Stefanie Zweig,

“Strangers in a strange land”

The Guardian,

21 March 2003

 

*****

Nowhere in Africa

Premiered in 2001

Released on DVD in 2003

 

*****

Nirgendwo in Afrika

by Stefanie Zweig

(German edition, 1995)

 

*****

Stefanie Zweig

(1932-2014)

*****