Transit

by Christian Petzold

Transit

Synopsis

German troops are fast approaching Paris. Georg, a German refugee, escapes to Marseille in the nick of time. In his luggage, he carries the documents of an author, Weidel, who has taken his own life in fear of his persecutors. Those documents include a manuscript, letters and visa assurance from the Mexican embassy.

In Marseille, only those who can prove they will leave, may remain. Visas for possible host countries, transit visas, and those scarce tickets for passage by ship are much needed. Georg has memorized Weidel's papers and assumes his identity. He delves into the quasi-existence of flight: refugee chatter in the corridors of a small hotel, the consulates, cafés and bars that line the harbor... He befriends Driss, the son of his comrade Heinz, who died on the run. Why move on at all? Are new beginnings possible elsewhere anyway?

Everything changes when Georg falls in love with the mysterious Marie. Is it devotion or calculation that has led her to share her life with a doctor, Richard, before journeying on in search of her husband? He's said to have surfaced in Marseille in possession of a Mexican visa for him and his wife.

 

Director

Born in 1960 in Hilden. Completed German and theater studies at the Free University of Berlin and subsequently directing at the German Film and Television Academy in Berlin between 1988 and 1994.

DIRECTOR'S FILMOGRAPHY:
Transit (2017)
Phoenix (2015)
Barbara (2012)
Dreileben - Etwas Besseres Als Den Tod (Something Better Than Death) (2010)
Jerichow (2008)
Yella (2007)
Ghosts (2005)
Wolfsburg (2003)
Something To Remind Me (2002)
The State I Am In (2001)
The Sex Thief (1998)
Cuba Libre (1996)
Pilots (1995)

 

Cast

Franz Rogowski
Paula Beer
Lilien Batman
Ronald Kukulies
Godehard Giese

Crew

director & scriptwriter Christian Petzold
director of photography Hans Fromm
sound Andreas Mücke-Niesytka
editor Bettina Böhler
production design Kade Gruber
costume Katharina Ost
music Stefan Will

Technical Data

format DCP / colour / 5.1
length 101 min.
original language German, French

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