Colonia

 

Colonia 2015

• Director: Florian Gallenberger
• Based on the novel: no
• Cast: Emma Watson, Daniel Brühl, Michael Nyqvist, Richenda Carey
• Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:
• Emma Watson – Little Women, The Circle, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, My Week with Marilyn, Harry Potter  
• Daniel Brühl – The Cloverfield Paradox, Alone in Berlin, Woman in Gold, Inglourious Basterds, Ladies in Lavender, Good-bye Lenin
• Michael Nyqvist – John Wick, Luftslottet som sprängdes, Flickan som lekte med elden, Män som hatar kvinnor, Den bästa av mödrar, Grabben i graven bredvid, Reuter & Skoog, Tillsammans
• Richenda Carey – Laura Croft Tomb Raider, Whatever Happened to Harold Smith, Photographing Fairies, Jeeves and Wooster
• Why? The cast.
• Seen: 22 January 2023     

       1973. Chile during the coup. British Lena (Watson) and German Daniel (Brühl) are active in the movement supporting Allende. They are arrested and brought to the stadium. Daniel is moved to the feared and mysterious Colonia, an isolated and fanatical religious sect who produces weapons and poison gas for Pinochet’s regime. It is led by Paul Schäfer (Nyqvist). Lena is released from the stadium and travels the length of Chile  to infiltrate the sect and rescue Daniel.

       It’s a cruel, grim, and frightening thriller. Lena and Daniel may be fictional, but Paul Schäfer isn’t. He and Colonia continued until the ending of Pinochet’s dictatorship.

       Watson and Brühl are good as always but Nyquist, dear sweet Michael, playing against character, is completely convincing as the sadistic and perverted sect leader.     

4* of 5