Two terminally ill patients escape from a hospital, steal a car and rush towards the sea.Two terminally ill patients escape from a hospital, steal a car and rush towards the sea.Two terminally ill patients escape from a hospital, steal a car and rush towards the sea.
- Awards
- 8 wins & 3 nominations total
Willi Thomczyk
- Autoverkäufer
- (as Willy Thomczyk)
Featured reviews
10andlommy
After watching the movie for 11th time i decided to share what i think of it.
It is simply great. By great i mean the idea that is (supposedly) very deep inside. Perhaps it's about the ultimate goal, that everyone has and hasn't got time to fulfill it, and when the moment comes that makes one understand 'now is the right time'. Sometimes it's too late, sometimes one never understands it is time to change something, but for those two, life was a success. Quoting matrix (kill me), it's the "free your mind" style, when all problems go away and you can do whatever you want to do. It's actually a very thrilling experience, and hope this movie can inspire someone to change something in the rhythm of life they're currently living. I like movies that make you think different of things, and this surely is one that does so.
It is simply great. By great i mean the idea that is (supposedly) very deep inside. Perhaps it's about the ultimate goal, that everyone has and hasn't got time to fulfill it, and when the moment comes that makes one understand 'now is the right time'. Sometimes it's too late, sometimes one never understands it is time to change something, but for those two, life was a success. Quoting matrix (kill me), it's the "free your mind" style, when all problems go away and you can do whatever you want to do. It's actually a very thrilling experience, and hope this movie can inspire someone to change something in the rhythm of life they're currently living. I like movies that make you think different of things, and this surely is one that does so.
This is easily one of the best films that I have seen in a long time and certainly the best of its modern gangster genre. The plot is maybe a touch formulaic but that fits well as the whole film pokes fun of many of the clichees that Hollywood pictures like Pulp Fiction take a little too seriously. Actually, I have heard many people compare it to Pulp Fiction, but the only real similarity I found is in its frenetic style and odd sense of humor. As for humor, the subtitles are well done, so you don't lose much in the translation.
The movie is great. Simply brilliant. Even if you try to retell the plot you'll miss the whole point, because this movie isn't about the chain of events - it's about the people, the characters, the life itself. There is not a single scene that falls out of the whole composition: even though the plot is not the key issue here, it still beautifully binds the whole story together, perfectly connecting all the dots. And have your tissues ready: no matter how many times I watch it I always cry at the end and I'm not usually very sentimental. As for my male friends who watched it with me several times they usually just stay very silent at the end. It is very emotional and overwhelming: both sad and somehow positive at the same time. I envy those who have not seen it and will watch it for the first time.
The TV guide described the two leads in _KoHD_ as terminally ill gangsters, so when I came to watch it I discovered something quite different from what I had expected.
_KoHD_ is an excellent film that blends facets of gangster, buddy, road movie, comedy and drama genres together into a seamless whole. Initially, Martin and Rudi are, of course, hopelessly mismatched. As they travel towards the sea (their ultimate goal), the relationship between the two men begins to change. The nervous Rudi finds strength and confidence; Martin, on the other hand, who is initially by far the stronger of the pair, comes to rely more upon Rudi for strength and assistance.
Much have been made of the comedy in _KoHD_, and this is a major component - it is the humour that makes the film (which could have been utterly bleak) ultimately an uplifting experience. That being said, however, just when you forget that both men are dying you are reminded forcefully that they are both, as the title suggests, knocking on heaven's door. These two forces - the pathos and the comedy - provide a wonderful balance. Thumbs up.
_KoHD_ is an excellent film that blends facets of gangster, buddy, road movie, comedy and drama genres together into a seamless whole. Initially, Martin and Rudi are, of course, hopelessly mismatched. As they travel towards the sea (their ultimate goal), the relationship between the two men begins to change. The nervous Rudi finds strength and confidence; Martin, on the other hand, who is initially by far the stronger of the pair, comes to rely more upon Rudi for strength and assistance.
Much have been made of the comedy in _KoHD_, and this is a major component - it is the humour that makes the film (which could have been utterly bleak) ultimately an uplifting experience. That being said, however, just when you forget that both men are dying you are reminded forcefully that they are both, as the title suggests, knocking on heaven's door. These two forces - the pathos and the comedy - provide a wonderful balance. Thumbs up.
10juliukz
European movies do have this feature: they combine drama and comedy and make you smile because it is too sad to cry.
Moreover, this particular film has a perfectly selected crew and the screenplay is flawless.
To have a dream. This masterpiece is all about it.
Two men, trapped by cancer unconsciously recognizing the sea as the symbol of freedom and eternity are making their last 500 km to the Baltic Sea.
Acting at its best the crew is offering us this warm feeling of sad happiness while singing Guns&Roses "Knock, knock, knockin' on the heaven's doors" and understanding, that such moments do make life.
Moreover, this particular film has a perfectly selected crew and the screenplay is flawless.
To have a dream. This masterpiece is all about it.
Two men, trapped by cancer unconsciously recognizing the sea as the symbol of freedom and eternity are making their last 500 km to the Baltic Sea.
Acting at its best the crew is offering us this warm feeling of sad happiness while singing Guns&Roses "Knock, knock, knockin' on the heaven's doors" and understanding, that such moments do make life.
Did you know
- TriviaWas the most successful German movie of 1997 with 3,585,422 tickets sold.
- GoofsWhile Rudi sleeps with the whores the foot of the cameraman can be seen.
- Quotes
Martin Brest: In heaven, they're talking about nothing but the sea and how wonderful it is. They talk about the sunsets they saw, they talk about how the sun turned blood red before diving into the sea and they talk about how they could feel how the sun lost its power and the coolness from the sea and all that fire was only glowing inside.
- Crazy creditsThere is a short film sequence after the credits. It shows Bernd Eichinger being searched by a policeman. He carries some of the money that was sent to different people by mail in the film.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Inthierryview (2008)
- SoundtracksI Will Survive
By Freddie Perren (as Frederick Perren) / Dino Fekaris
Performed by U-Stay with Melina
Produced by Franz Plasa and Mahony Prod
- How long is Knockin' on Heaven's Door?Powered by Alexa
Details
Box office
- Budget
- DEM 4,300,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $5,710
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $1,731
- Aug 22, 1999
- Gross worldwide
- $214,139
- Runtime
- 1h 27m(87 min)
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.39 : 1
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