Post by suzeeq on Mar 22, 2011 7:32:02 GMT -5
I think this is a done deal, so I'm making a thread for it. Anyone hear of any news about this film, please post it here. 
Copied from Ki's post:
COMRADE
DIRECTOR’S NOTE
Two Englishmen and three Germans. They are all at war and they are all killers.
Partly driven by their own attitudes, and partly by the mechanisms of war, they
acknowledge that other laws prevail. In this view both parties are “heroes” and
“villains.” They have shot one another down.
COMRADE is based on true events, where the result was friendship between
enemies.
I see COMRADE as an anti-war movie, this time with a German officer as the
main character and hero. It’s an anti-war movie because, on the one hand, it
shows that human beings are similar if they only get a chance to show it. On the
other hand, we can see that the mechanisms and conceptions of war have the
ability to destroy what human beings are able to build together.
What fascinates me about this story is the simplicity of it. The enemy image is
simple and clear, and concludes with one concise reality: they need each other.
Even though COMRADE has true events as its foundation, we have had to take
certain dramatic liberties. This enabled us to develop the narrative, and create
contrasts and events that expand the nuances of this already complex and
interesting story.
We wish to use nature as an aid and enemy. Nature is where the characters can
find food, where they can experience starry skies and greatness. It’s also where
they risk finding their grave if they don’t kill one another first. But nature shall
also be a partner which makes them understand how small and vulnerable they
are, and what a waste it is to fight against each other under such circumstances.
Humor and absurdity will be important elements in this film. My wish is to
illuminate how unnecessary, and sometimes ridiculous, asserted contradictions
are.
I want to show, up close, that these are human beings, for better or for worse, on
both sides of “right and wrong”. We have our MAX MANUS, and we cherish these
images of our heroes. In this film, heroism is just as important but played in a different
key and seen from our standpoint. It’s about seeing the person behind enemy lines
and behind the ideologies.
- Petter Næss
CHARACTER PROFILES:
The German bomber pilot LEUTNANT HORST SCHOPIS is a highly educated,
fifth generation Military Officer. A good man caught on the wrong side of the war.
The Navigator SERGEANT KARL-HEINZ STRUNK is a gentle giant, with a
surprisingly wry sense of humor.
The Mechanic CORPORAL JOSEF AUCHTOR is a hardcore, dedicated Nazi,
who grew up in an orphanage believing that Hitler was his father.
British Royal Air Force Fighter Pilot CAPTAIN RICHARD THOMAS
PARTRIDGE is a British upper class gentleman. Never having been tested,
Partridge finds that, when pushed, he has more strength than he thought.
British Royal Navy Gunner PRIVATE ROBIN SOUTHEY SMITH is a true wise
guy, pulled straight from the streets of Liverpool. Smith’s obnoxious behavior
partially obscures the fact that, deep down, he’s a good man and a dedicated
friend.
Copied from Ki's post:
COMRADE
DIRECTOR’S NOTE
Two Englishmen and three Germans. They are all at war and they are all killers.
Partly driven by their own attitudes, and partly by the mechanisms of war, they
acknowledge that other laws prevail. In this view both parties are “heroes” and
“villains.” They have shot one another down.
COMRADE is based on true events, where the result was friendship between
enemies.
I see COMRADE as an anti-war movie, this time with a German officer as the
main character and hero. It’s an anti-war movie because, on the one hand, it
shows that human beings are similar if they only get a chance to show it. On the
other hand, we can see that the mechanisms and conceptions of war have the
ability to destroy what human beings are able to build together.
What fascinates me about this story is the simplicity of it. The enemy image is
simple and clear, and concludes with one concise reality: they need each other.
Even though COMRADE has true events as its foundation, we have had to take
certain dramatic liberties. This enabled us to develop the narrative, and create
contrasts and events that expand the nuances of this already complex and
interesting story.
We wish to use nature as an aid and enemy. Nature is where the characters can
find food, where they can experience starry skies and greatness. It’s also where
they risk finding their grave if they don’t kill one another first. But nature shall
also be a partner which makes them understand how small and vulnerable they
are, and what a waste it is to fight against each other under such circumstances.
Humor and absurdity will be important elements in this film. My wish is to
illuminate how unnecessary, and sometimes ridiculous, asserted contradictions
are.
I want to show, up close, that these are human beings, for better or for worse, on
both sides of “right and wrong”. We have our MAX MANUS, and we cherish these
images of our heroes. In this film, heroism is just as important but played in a different
key and seen from our standpoint. It’s about seeing the person behind enemy lines
and behind the ideologies.
- Petter Næss
CHARACTER PROFILES:
The German bomber pilot LEUTNANT HORST SCHOPIS is a highly educated,
fifth generation Military Officer. A good man caught on the wrong side of the war.
The Navigator SERGEANT KARL-HEINZ STRUNK is a gentle giant, with a
surprisingly wry sense of humor.
The Mechanic CORPORAL JOSEF AUCHTOR is a hardcore, dedicated Nazi,
who grew up in an orphanage believing that Hitler was his father.
British Royal Air Force Fighter Pilot CAPTAIN RICHARD THOMAS
PARTRIDGE is a British upper class gentleman. Never having been tested,
Partridge finds that, when pushed, he has more strength than he thought.
British Royal Navy Gunner PRIVATE ROBIN SOUTHEY SMITH is a true wise
guy, pulled straight from the streets of Liverpool. Smith’s obnoxious behavior
partially obscures the fact that, deep down, he’s a good man and a dedicated
friend.
(