MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

HELL in New York!

Tim Fehlbaum & Hannah Herzsprung

Last night's USA debut of “HELL” (which is the German word for “Bright”), was perhaps a wake-up call to those who do not heed the warnings of global warming.

The film's director and screenwriter, Tim Fehlbaum certainly communicates that life is indeed hell in 2016, after the world’s temperature has risen to a level that water and food have become so scarce, that the last few survivors fight mercilessly for scraps or drops.

Marie (Hannah Herzsprung), her friend Philip (Lars Eidinger) and Marie’s younger sister Leonie (Lisa Vicari) are on their way in their car into the Bavarian mountains to find fresh water and food reserves. Another drifter (Stipe Ercek) tries to rob them, but instead they forge an uneasy alliance – useful for all, but fraught with deep distrust. While everyone is weary of the enemy within, the real challenge comes when they head into an ambush planned and executed by people with far more sinister thoughts, and even less scruples when it comes to survival. It’s a challenge that leads Marie into a deeper abyss than she had imagined …

Superb actors, a strong sense of suspense and perfect camera work and production design are the ingredients of this post apocalyptic thriller that The Hollywood Reporter describes as ”THE ROAD meets THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE (minus the hardware).”

Young director Tim Fehlbaum started his career at the Munich University of Television and Film, made numerous shorts, videos and commercials and won the Shocking Shorts Award at the 2004 Munich Film Festival where he returned this year with his debut feature film HELL. He received the Young German Cinema Award for Best Director in Munich and will present his international premiere at the Swiss summer festival in Locarno with a midnight screening on the famous Piazza Grande. Paramount will release the film in Germany on September 22.

Director Tim Fehlbaum, Screenplay Tim Fehlbaum, Thomas Wöbke and Oliver Kahl, DoP Markus Förderer, Producers Gabriele M. Walther and Thomas Wöbke, Co-Producers Ruth Waldburger and Stefan Gärtner, Cast Hannah Herzsprung (FOUR MINUTES, THE READER), Lars Eidinger (EVERYONE ELSE), Stipe Erceg (THE BAADER MEINHOF COMPLEX), Angela Winkler (THE TIN DRUM, THE LOST HONOR OF KATHARINA BLUM), executive produced by Roland Emmerich. Filmed on location in Germany and Corsica. Running time 90 min.

TRAILER: http://www.youtube.com/embed/3l91z_C7RhM (To activate subtitles, “click” the little “CC” button on the video player.)

By Teresita D'Alessandro, MercoPress Arts & Lifestyle Correspondent, New York