So weit die Füße tragen (2001)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Hardy Martins

Writers:

Josef Martin Bauer (novel)
Bastian Clevé (writer)

Release Date:

27 December 2001 (Germany)

Genre:

Drama | War

Plot:

As prisoner of war Clemens Forell, a German soldier during WW II, is sentenced to a labour camp in far east Siberia...

Plot Keywords:

Siberia | Pow | War Criminal | Freight Train | Border

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Bernhard Bettermann	...	Clemens Forell
Michael Mendl	...	Dr. Stauffer
Anatoli Kotenyov	...	Kamenev (as Anatoly Kotenyov)
Irina Pantaeva	...	Irina
Iris Böhm	...	Kathrin
Anna Hermann	...	Lieschen
Adalbert Mayer	...	Pfarrer (as Pfarrer Dr. Adalbert Mayer)
Hans Peter Hallwachs	...	Onkel Baudrexel
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Egor Abrossimov
Hans-Uwe Bauer	...	Leibrecht (as Hans Uwe Bauer)
Simon Beckord	...	Frieder
Igor Filchenkov	...	Anastas
Heinrich Giskes
André Hennicke	...	Bauknecht
Johannes Hitzblech	...	Danhorn
Nikolai Kondrashkin	...	Schamane
Vladimir Korpus	...	Semjon (as Wladimir Korpus)
Pavel Lebeshev	...	Chief prison camp
Irina Narbekova	...	Dr. Pachmutova
Anna Sonntag
Antonio Wannek	...	Mattern
Stephan Wolf-Schönburg	...	Klugmann
Aleksandr Yefremov	...	Igor

Also Known As:

As Far As My Feet Will Carry Me (International: English title)

Runtime:

158 min

Country:

Germany

Language:

German | Russian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Germany:12 | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Germany

Company:

B & C Filmproduktion GmbH

Trivia:

Bernhard Bettermann's grandfathers both were sent to Soviet POW camps at the end of World War Two.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: Forell's daughter is looking at a post 1991 map, it shows boundaries of countries that did not exist as independent entities during cold war, such as Croatia, Ukraine, Czech Republic, Latvia, etc...

Movie Connections:

Remake of "So weit die Füße tragen" (1959)

Intensely touching and powerful

This film is about a German prisoner of war escaping from a camp in the eastern most tip of Siberia.

"So Weit die Füße Tragen" is amazing. Clemens' struggle to survive is almost unbelievable. His initial journey across Siberia is a lonely and hard one. The joy he experiences (and I completely feel it too) when he sees a bare tree is overwhelming. In the land of pure wilderness, the simplest item can exhilarate. It is a stark reminder of how materialistic the world has become, and we are taking so many things for granted.

It is heartbreaking to see that he learns not to trust anyone, as his escape is filled with prosecution and betrayal. This keeps the thrill and suspense throughout. In fact, I had to pause the film several times to calm myself down.

The execution of the film is also very good. It does not feel like 2.5 hours, in fact I think no scene can be cut away without harming the integrity of it. There are many memorable scenes, such as the raft on rapids, and the many concentration camp scenes. The most striking scene is the final bridge scene. The immense natural beauty is contrasted with the most dreaded encounter. The suspense and emotion of it is beyond words.

Apart from the tight and intense plot, and the excellent execution, "So Weit die Füße Tragen" is filled with very touching elements. The ending will surely bring anyone to tears. To think that Clemens have suffered three years of unimaginable hardship to achieve this one solitary goal is inspiring and moving.

"So Weit die Füße Tragen" is inspiring and thought provoking. It celebrates the will power to struggle and to survive. I will remember this film as one of the most touching and powerful film I have ever watched.