A film by Sonja Heiss
Five protagonists travel with their backpacks through India and Thailand searching for freedom and adventure. Their journeys draw a detailed picture of a generation of individualist Western tourists who hope to achieve redemption from themselves in Asia.
Joshua and Adam, two young Englishmen, get lost in the ecstasy of full moon raves in the Thai jungle, only to ultimately lose their friendship. Meanwhile Svenja is stuck in a hotel in Bangkok, because she missed her connecting flight. She starts a childish and deeply emotional relationship with a Thai travel agent on the telephone who hardly speaks any English but nevertheless falls in love with her. On the other hand, Liam, a loveable Irish slob tries to get in touch with the real India, which brings him closer to the Indian people and their sympathy towards him. However, this does not solve his problems waiting for him at home. And then there is Marion, a German, who travels to a meditation paradise for Western devotees, where she tries very hard to become happy. But the road to real spirituality is rocky.
And so they all wander aimlessly through the huge amusement park called Asia.
Director Sonja Heiss travelled through Asia for several months with her protagonists. The result is a hilarious film, which blurs the line between reality and fiction and takes the audience on an exceptional trip.
Komplizen Film in co-production with ZDF – Das Kleine Fernsehspiel and HFF München, funded by FFF Bayern, FFA and BKM.
Josh
Ricky Champ
Adam
Gareth Llewelyn
Marion
Eva Löbau
Liam
Chris O`Dowd
Svenja
Svenja Steinfelder
Directed by
Sonja Heiss
Screenplay
Sonja Heiss
Nikolai von Graevenitz
Director of Photography
Nikolai von Graevenitz
Editing
Natali Barrey
Vincent Pluss
Patric Lambertz
Costume Design
Nicole von Graevenitz
Original Sound
Andreas Prescher
Original Music
The Festival
Christian Garcia
Sound Design
Daniel Iribarren
Mixing
Hubertus Rath
Line Producing
Mareike Lueg
Hannah Maag
Commissioning Editors
Christian Cloos (ZDF Das kleine Fernsehspiel)
Co-producer
Dirk Engelhardt
Producers
Janine Jackowski, Maren Ade, Sonja Heiss (Komplizen Film)
First Steps Award 2007
Abendfüllender Spielfilm
Berlinale 2007
Prix Dialogue en Perspective: besondere Erwähnung
Brussels European Film Festival 2007
Prix Cinédécouvertes
Festival des deutschen Films Mannheim/Ludwigshafen 2007
Zuschauerpreis und besondere Auszeichnung der Jury
Fünf Seen Festival 2007
Star Preis
Birds Eye View London Film Festival 2008
Bester Nachwuchs-Spielfilm
Berlinale 2007
Perspektive Deutscher Film
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival 2007
Variety's Critics Choice
Festival des deutschen Films Mannheim/Ludwigshafen 2007
Brussels European Film Festival 2007
Sarajewo International Film Festival 2007
Riga International Film Festival 2007
Vancouver International Film Festival 2007
Copenhagen International Film Festival 2007
Viennale – Wien International Film Festival 2007
Sevilla International Film Festival 2007
Kinofest Lünen 2007
Tromsø International Film Festival
Mumbai International Film Festival
Birds Eye View London Film Festival
Tiburon International Film Festival
German Film Festival in Israel, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa
Palm Beach International Film Festival
41st Annual WorldFest-Houston
Newport International Film Festival
Los Angeles Film Festival