Rent Requiem (2006)

3.3 of 5 from 110 ratings
1h 28min
Rent Requiem (aka Réquiem) Online DVD & Blu-ray Rental
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Synopsis:
Michaela (Sandra Hüller) has spent all her life in a small town in Southern Germany where she has grown up in a deeply religious family. Despite her years-long battle with epilepsy, she yearns to leave home and study at university. At first, everything seems to be going well - her first taste of freedom brings a romantic involvement with Stefan (Nicholas Reinke) and a rekindling of a friendship with Hanna (Anna Blomeier), who is from the same town. But soon, the shell of family and faith within which she has felt so protected starts to crack. The result is a breakdown. Not a normal epileptic attack, but a frightening onrush of grotesque faces and voices.
Afraid of being sent back home to her family, Michaela seeks help from a priest who reinforces her conviction that she is possessed. Though Stefan and Hanna entreat her to seek psychiatric help, they are unable to break through the dense religious and moral ties binding Michaela to her family, and leave her to fate...Director Hans-Christian Schmid turns a sharply observant yet understanding eye towards a fragile human being at sea in a world of moral ambiguity. Inspired by true events, 'Requiem' tells the story of a young woman torn between family, faith and illness.
Actors:
, , , , , , , Friederike Adolph, , , , , Alejandro Esquerra, Kutrín Kreredis, Hannah Neumann, Anne Chantal Paitian, Florian Wagner, Angel Alise Adell, , Stefan Müller-Doriat
Directors:
Producers:
Hans-Christian Schmid
Writers:
Bernd Lange
Aka:
Réquiem
Studio:
Soda Pictures
Genres:
Drama, Horror
Collections:
Horror, The Best Demonic Possession and Exorcism Films
Countries:
Germany
Awards:

2006 Berlinale Silver Bear for Best Actress

2006 Berlinale FIPRESCI Prize

BBFC:
Release Date:
26/03/2007
Run Time:
88 minutes
Languages:
German Dolby Digital 2.0
Subtitles:
English
DVD Regions:
Region 2
Formats:
Pal
Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen 2.35:1
Colour:
Colour
Bonus:
  • Director and Star Interview Transcript
  • Stills Gallery
  • Theatrical Trailer

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Reviews (2) of Requiem

powerful - Requiem review by sb

Spoiler Alert
21/11/2022

Powerful film. The acting, especially the main character is superb. A sad and harrowing movie at times. Really worth a watch if you can cope with a dark side to your movies.

0 out of 0 members found this review helpful.

Horrific on many levels ... (spoilers) - Requiem review by NP

Spoiler Alert
23/05/2024

An initially quiet and extraordinary film, which relies very much on its central performance. A true horror on all kinds of levels, bereft of special effects and spectacle. Made in 2006, but set 40 years earlier; Hans-Christian Schmid directs in a way that lets the actors do their thing, which allows us to soak up the chilly atmosphere both outside, and in the titular Michaela’s bleak family environment. You could spread the bleakness like butter. Michaela played by Sandra Hüller is an astonishing central performance.

Based on a true story, the names have been changed – and also the ending. [Spoiler]: whilst ‘Requiem’ ends in the middle of a scene, offering, until the end credits summarize her fate, an uncertain future for our heroine (in keeping with the non-judgemental style of the film throughout), in reality, the young student died of exhaustion and malnutrition as the result of – get ready for this – twice-daily exorcisms for a year: a more horrifying notion than anything presented even here. The resulting trial of her parents and priests formed, very loosely, the basis for ‘The Exorcism of Emily Rose’, a far more visceral and sensationalist recreation of events than here.

‘Requiem’ remains a tragic, heartbreaking, devastating story. We’re never entirely sure as to the nature of Michaela’s malady, although it seems a combination of mental instability, epilepsy, peer pressure, a truly monstrous mother (who does repent later) and the dangerously misplaced kindness of her father.

The no-frills nature of the production gives it a raw, emotional charge. We’re as concerned for the nervous onlookers during the exorcism as we are the unfortunate central figure, and the results are compellingly sad. My score is 9 out of 10.

0 out of 0 members found this review helpful.

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