Here is the film link:
http://www.heaven-derfilm.de/
You can download the quicktime preview there also.
There are two reviews at www.amazon.com
Anyone know any more news on this one? I'm a big fan of Tom Tykwer after seeing Run, Lola Run, Winter Sleepers, and The Princess and the Warrior.
Heaven is supposed to be the first of a Trilogy, next being Hell, and finally Pergatory, written byKrzysztof Kieslowski (died in 1996) who wrote the trilogy Red, White, and Blue, unknown if Tykwer will direct the next one.
It's Tykwer's first English language film.
Filming wrapped, interestingly enough on Sept. 11, 2001, and is supposed to contain a scene in which Blanchett's character goes into a skyscraper and a bomb goes off, by further coincidence.
Filmed in Germany and Italy.
Was released in Germany on 28 February, 2002, but isn't supposed to be released until end of October 2002 in the US, being pushed back because of the terroist attacks.
I'm in Amsterdam and would like to check the movie out soon, wonder if it's subtitled in German in Germany and is still in theaters? Maybe a daytrip to check it out might be coming up...

Damn, since the preview is dubbed in German, I assume the movie is dubbed also, guess no daytrip...

What? No more Tykwer fans here?

I loved Lola and liked TP&TW, but didn't know Tykwer was working on a English movie. Thanks for the info. It sounds interesting and I'll definately be checking it out when it finally gets its release here.

I'm looking forward to hearing some critical responses to the movie and perhaps seeing it, although more for the Kieslowski factor than the Twyker factor (or the Giovanni Ribisi factor).

Trailer's pretty nifty, although I don't know a lick of German. I thought I read Dustin Hoffman saying this is the best film he's ever seen -- anyone else remember that?

I haven't seen it myself but the reviews in the German press were generally pretty scathing. Most of the criticism seems to center on the plot, which has been described as absurd and unbelievable (and if the plot summary I have is accurate then I'm inclined to agree, although I'm witholding judgment until I actually see it). Which is odd since I would've thought the screenplay would've been the best part of the film.

That is unexpected.

AICN gave t an early 9.5/10!

Any further news on this one yet?

just saw it.

it was awesome, in a mellow sort of way

Just like The Princess and The Warrior. Can't wait for this (maybe the wrong thread, but I am also looking forward to Full Frontal. **** the critics.)

The trailer looked good, I hope this is a return to form for Tykwer, I found TPATW disappointing. I'll see it just for Giovanni Ribisi and Cate Blanchett, though, I think they're great.

I saw a trailer for this back in Feb. - anyone know when its actually coming out in the US?


edit: According to IMDB, its limited run starts on October 4.

I was in Germany for the film festival it premiered at, tried to get tickets, and was told that there were no tickets available to that one due to the 9\11 attacks, and a fear that something bad would happen . I did get to see the ever so lovely Cate Blanchett, though <sigh>.

I got to see Heaven today, which I must say was awesome. It was the best Tom Tykwer film I’ve ever seen. Though, of course, I’ve only seen Run, Lola Run.

Anyway, I got to see the movie as the opening film in the Cinemanila Film Festival (www.cinemanila.com.ph) it’s a film festival that will be showing from August 1-15 by director Tikoy Aguiluz.

And so going to the movie. The trick is to reveal enough about the movie, without spoiling it.

So let me begin by saying that the movie was awesome, in a mellow sort of way. Cate Blanchett was beautiful. The most beautiful I have ever seen her. Giovanni Ribisi was excellent, and as one review here puts it, cherubic.



Anyway, the movie takes place in Italy. With all its beautiful landscapes, old buildings, gorgeous carabinieri uniforms. And Tykwer makes use of this beauty in full effect. This movie is in no way frenetic, like Run, Lola Run. The cinematography of Frank Griebe, who is Tykwer’s long time cinematographer, was excellent.

There are some shots in the movie, that some may say were overindulgent, but I found them very peaceful and zen like. Like a train shot, and a helicopter shot.

The whole movie had a sort of mellowness that I haven’t felt before. And I must say if you want the basic minimum of a perfect movie this was it. In short, I loved it. And up with Windtalkers, this is my favorite movie of the year so far. (Am looking forward to 24 Hour Party People and Spy Kids 2!)

And so, I highly recommend to everyone to see it. And I hope that Tykwer does the continuing series with Hell and then, Purgatory.

Now it’s time to see all of Krzysztof Kieslowski, Three Colors: Red, White and Blue. And the Decalogue

in San Francisco, it starts on Oct 11 at the Embarcadero Center. no listings yet for the peninsula.... good luck.


man i've been waiting a long time for this one!

I saw Heaven yesterday. Of course it has much more in common with Princess and the Warrior than Run Lola Run but all three share the mystic underpinings.

I won't repeat the plot again, but suffice to say the audience is required to make some jumps in understanding motivation and of course some people will probably have trouble sympathizing with the main character, no matter her intentions.

The plot holes can be explained away because there the film is essentially a fantasy, and the best things about the film are the cinematography, and the acting to some degree. I didn't have a big reaction to Ribisi's character - he just didn't have any charisma. The biggest problem in the film for me is that the story starts well and slowly staggers to its conclusion.

I would place this below TP&TW and RLR personally.

Still no word on Tykwer's next project.

I saw it and I would place it as ambitious but a wrong turn was taken somewhere.

The plot surrounding Blanchett's character is refreshing considering that she's a woman but is sort of unbelievable.

Ribisi is OK but this film is a big mess.

It has its good points but I like Run Lola and Princess a lot better.

**1/2 out of ****

Pretty much agree with those two posts above. I caught it last week- not phenomenal, but Heaven does have its moments, especially during the first half. Wonder if they'll do Hell, and Purgatory.

Cate Blanchett is just great though.

basically, if you like the actress a lot then definitely try
to catch "Heaven" because she really did get a
great female role in this one.

Heaven was all right. It started out strong, with some sharp direction from Tykwer. And his fascinations with coincidences and latticework of human experience is reminiscient of some Kieslowski material. Unfortunately Tykwer doesn't have a grasp on characters.

There's a point in this film where the machinations of plot should just fall away and just focus on the experiences of the characters. But Tykwer's direction just doesn't allow the actors to flourish under this outstanding script. The camera floats and spins and dialogue is voiced over lush fields and rolling hills. It's constantly undermining Blanchett's and Ribisi's efforts.

I just think Tykwer brings a lot of style to a humanist story that requires a much more low-key, observant mise-en-scene. And Heaven is still much more restrained than The Princess and The Warrior.

I finally watched this tonight and I have to say the cinematography was absolutely beautiful. I really liked how they shot this movie and how rich the colors were during certain scenes.

The movie was very somber. Cate Blanchett was amazing as usual. I do agree that the story was kind of a mess and could have been cleaned up better. The ending was interesting...

I enjoyed, but didn't love Run Lola Run, and The Princess and the Warrior really, really bored me.

And yet I really enjoyed Heaven. The cinematography was great, Blanchett gave what I thought to be one of her best performances, and Ribisi was surprisingly good. The story I felt was very restrained and unusual... much like the Kyslowski (sp?) films I'm seen (3 Colors Trilogy / half of The Decalogue... I know, I haven't finished it, I'm a bad, bad person!), and it worked for what it was. Not gonna be in my top 10 of 2002, but perhaps top 20. 8/10

I'm a huge fan of "Run Lola Run" and "The Princess and the Warrior". Blanchett and Ribisi gave great performances and I liked the cinematography. On a whole, I was just not too crazy about the film: ** 1/2 out of ****.

Is this getting a theatrical release? I already had the DVD(released by Buena Vista) I've since traded it away though.