Film Archive

City Below, The (Unter dir die Stadt)

A by-chance meeting at a mandatory cultural event. Roland Cordes, 55, member of the board of a large bank, meets the wife of a new employee: Svenja Steve, 33.

There is an immediate attraction between the two. When a bank manager is murdered in Indonesia, Cordes seizes his chance: he suggests Svenja’s husband Oliver for the position, even though there are better qualified people to take the job. But Cordes’ power is far-reaching and Oliver is transferred to Jakarta. From the fleeting meeting a affair develops that becomes more and more existential in nature. When Cordes’ scheme is exposed, however, Svenja suddenly ends the relationship. Deeply hurt, Cordes almost loses his mind. At the same time in Jakarta: Oliver is being threatened. Svenja begs him to return. In a dramatic night, Cordes gives up his position on the board of directors, Svenja jogs through a park at night, and Oliver stops to reflect for the first time in his life ... It is morning. We see a hotel room: Svenja and Cordes, two players who can’t keep away from each other...

Christoph Hochhaeusler was born in 1972 in Munich. He studied Architecture in Berlin from 1993-1995, followed by studies at the University of Television & Film in Munich from 1996-2002. He is also the founder and co-publisher of the film magazine Revolver. His films include: First Aid (Erste Hilfe, 1995), Night Shadows (Nachtschatten, 1996), Fever (Fieber, 1999), Flirt (2000), Pulse (Puls, 2001), This Very Moment (Milchwald, 2003), Low Profile (Falscher Bekenner, 2005), the episode Séance from Germany 09, and The City Below (Unter dir die Stadt, 2010).
 

Genre Drama
Category Feature Film Cinema
Year of Production 2010
Director Christoph Hochhaeusler
Screenplay Ulrich Peltzer, Christoph Hochhaeusler
Director of Photography Bernhard Keller
Editor Stefan Stabenow
Music by Benedikt Schiefer
Production Design Tim Pannen
Producer Bettina Brokemper
Production Company Heimatfilm/Cologne
Principal Cast Robert Hunger-Buehler, Nicolette Krebitz, Mark Waschke
Casting Ulrike Mueller
Length 110 min
Format 35 mm, color, cs
Original Version German
Subtitled Versions English
Sound Technology Dolby Digital
Festival Screenings Cannes 2010 (Un Certain Regard), Munich 2010
Awards Foerderpreis Deutscher Film 2010 (Best Screenplay) Munich 2010
With backing from Filmstiftung NRW, HessenInvestFilm
German Distributor Piffl Medien/Berlin

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