(aka "Fangschuß, Der" )
directed by Volker Schlöndorff
France/West Germany 1976
Schlöndorff's "Coup de Grace" focuses on Sophie, a young aristocrat, during the end of the Russian Civil War. Sophie's object of desire is the Prussian soldier, Erich, yet he constantly evades her advances. Sophie begins to act in ways to try and make Erich jealous, but does he even care? The backdrop of this torrid love story is a war where leftists are suspect, and in some cases, executed on the spot, yet it becomes obviously clear that Sophie sympathizes with them. I myself don't know a whole lot about the Russian Civil War at that time, so I'm sure that some of the intricacies of the plotlines woven throughout the story were lost on me, yet the performances of Margarethe von Trotta as Sophie and Matthias Habich as Erich were enough to keep my interest. This film may not seem very daring or controversial today, but I'm quite certain that at the time of it's release it would have, given the political and sexual undertones that perpetuate the film. The editing and cinematography are also strong elements of this film. Cinematographer Igor Luther and Schlöndorff manage to keep a constant flow of light and dark shots, nearly eliminating all middle ground; this is surely symbolic of the cat and mouse relationship between Sophie and Erich. The pacing of the editing was also great. While this story itself wasn't my own personal cup of tea, all of these elements combined to make for an enjoyable viewing of a rather interesting film.
Poster
 |
Theatrical Release: October 26, 1977
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
DVD Review: Criterion Collection - Region 0 - NTSC
| DVD Box Cover |
|
CLICK to order from:
|
| Distribution |
Criterion Collection - Spine # 192 Region 0 - NTSC |
|
| Runtime | 1:36:52 | |
| Video |
1.77:1 Original Aspect Ratio
16X9 enhanced |
|
|
NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
||
| Bitrate |
|
|
| Audio | Monaural | |
| Subtitles | English, none | |
| Features |
Release Information: Studio: Criterion / Home Vision Aspect Ratio:
Edition Details: Chapters 16 |
|
| Comments | Another great presentation by Criterion. There's the occasional image grain, but at times the picture is a little dark, but that can probably be contributed to the original elements and lighting circumstances during the actual filming. The interview with Volker Schlöndorff and Margarethe von Trotta is very informative and runs well over 40 minutes long. This movie might not be for everyone, but if you're a fan of Schlöndorff, it's a must have. |
DVD
Menus
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
Screen Captures
Subtitle sample
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| DVD Box Cover |
|
CLICK to order from:
|
| Distribution |
Criterion Collection - Spine # 192 Region 0 - NTSC |
|
Mail cheques, money orders, cash to: or CLICK PayPal logo to donate!
|
Gary Tooze
|
|
Thank You!
Coup de grâce Volker Schlöndorff Criterion DVD Review Coup de grâce Coup de grâce Volker Schlöndorff Criterion DVD Review Coup de grâce Coup de grâce Volker Schlöndorff Criterion DVD Review Coup de grâce Coup de grâce Volker Schlöndorff Criterion DVD Review Coup de grâce Coup de grâce Volker Schlöndorff Criterion DVD Review Coup de grâce Coup de grâce Volker Schlöndorff Criterion DVD Review Coup de grâce Coup de grâce Volker Schlöndorff Criterion DVD Review Coup de grâce Coup de grâce Volker Schlöndorff Criterion DVD Review Coup de grâce Coup de grâce Volker Schlöndorff Criterion DVD Review Coup de grâce Coup de grâce Volker Schlöndorff Criterion DVD Review Coup de grâce Coup de grâce Volker Schlöndorff Criterion DVD Review Coup de grâce Coup de grâce Volker Schlöndorff Criterion DVD Review Coup de grâce Coup de grâce Volker Schlöndorff Criterion DVD Review Coup de grâce Coup de grâce Volker Schlöndorff Criterion DVD Review Coup de grâce Coup de grâce Volker Schlöndorff Criterion DVD Review Coup de grâce Coup de grâce Volker Schlöndorff Criterion DVD Review Coup de grâce Coup de grâce Volker Schlöndorff Criterion DVD Review Coup de grâce Coup de grâce Volker Schlöndorff Criterion DVD Review Coup de grâce Coup de grâce Volker Schlöndorff Criterion DVD Review Coup de grâce Coup de grâce Volker Schlöndorff Criterion DVD Review Coup de grâce Coup de grâce Volker Schlöndorff Criterion DVD Review Coup de grâce Coup de grâce Volker Schlöndorff Criterion DVD Review Coup de grâce Coup de grâce Volker Schlöndorff Criterion DVD Review Coup de grâce Coup de grâce Volker Schlöndorff Criterion DVD Review Coup de grâce Coup de grâce Volker Schlöndorff Criterion DVD Review Coup de grâce Coup de grâce Volker Schlöndorff Criterion DVD Review Coup de grâce Coup de grâce Volker Schlöndorff Criterion DVD Review Coup de grâce Coup de grâce Volker Schlöndorff Criterion DVD Review Coup de grâce Coup de grâce Volker Schlöndorff Criterion DVD Review Coup de grâce Coup de grâce Volker Schlöndorff Criterion DVD Review Coup de grâce Coup de grâce Volker Schlöndorff Criterion DVD Review Coup de grâce Coup de grâce Volker Schlöndorff Criterion DVD Review Coup de grâce Coup de grâce Volker Schlöndorff Criterion DVD Review Coup de grâce Coup de grâce Volker Schlöndorff Criterion DVD Review Coup de grâce Coup de grâce Volker Schlöndorff Criterion DVD Review Coup de grâce Coup de grâce Volker Schlöndorff Criterion DVD Review Coup de grâce Coup de grâce Volker Schlöndorff Criterion DVD Review Coup de grâce Coup de grâce Volker Schlöndorff Criterion DVD Review Coup de grâce Coup de grâce Volker Schlöndorff Criterion DVD Review Coup de grâce Coup de grâce Volker Schlöndorff Criterion DVD Review Coup de grâce
