Flanders, a famous female author, travels 1989 after the fall of the Berlin wall into the German capital. She is deeply depressed of the events because she saw the communistic states as a ve... Read allFlanders, a famous female author, travels 1989 after the fall of the Berlin wall into the German capital. She is deeply depressed of the events because she saw the communistic states as a very good thing that has now ended. In the joy of these days she finds no person to understa... Read allFlanders, a famous female author, travels 1989 after the fall of the Berlin wall into the German capital. She is deeply depressed of the events because she saw the communistic states as a very good thing that has now ended. In the joy of these days she finds no person to understand her, so she has to travel back to Munich. After meeting several people, known and unkno... Read all
- Awards
- 15 wins & 4 nominations total
- Carmen
- (as Claudia Geisler)
- Alfons
- (as Thomas Barding)
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Featured reviews
The film portrays a possible west German point of view of the fall of the Wall. Hanna speaks of the problems before others have realized them-which an inside beauty of talking about an issue from the past is knowing the future and its consequences.
The film has to be in black and white to make the main protagonist stand out. Yes, perhaps she would look ridiculous in colour but the essence is that black and white are the colours for truth and certainty and this is what Hanna has lost. She doesn't know what the 'Wahrheit'(truth) is anymore. The world is only grey.
Some brilliant depictions of humiliation as she tries to return a posh coat to a exclusive shop only to be told no
The acting is magnificent from Hannelore Elsner It's shot in black and white which adds to the power of the story
A brilliant and harrowing tale perhaps too inevitable in it's outcome but the chain smoking makes up for that
Even though at first the movie seems like a primarily societal one, the politics provide only the backdrop for Hanna's personal journey and the examination of feelings of alienation in the modern world. The beautiful, classy black & white cinematography and the mise en scène emphasize Hanna's loneliness and the film focuses entirely on her. She meets a lot of people on her travels, both old friends and relatives as well as new acquaintances, but none of them stay in the picture for long and very few understand how she feels about the DDR or life in general. They all have different views on the events, thus providing a look into the minds of ordinary Germans of the era, so in the end the film does have a strong societal level too, despite the main attention being on personal feelings.
The character of Hanna Flanders is based on director Roehler's mother, German writer Gisela Elsner who committed suicide in 1992, so I can imagine the film having been a very personal project for Roehler. Luckily his strong directorial style makes the story appealing to the general public too and not just to those familiar with Elsner's life and works. Hannelore Elsner (no relation to Gisela Elsner despite the name) also does a very convincing job in showing Hanna Flanders' emotions throughout the film. I think I can safely recommend No Place to Go to anyone who is into bleak, depressing portrayals of anxiety and loneliness, but the presentation of the social climate of the era should also fascinate those who are interested in the Division of Germany and the end of it.
Did you know
- TriviaThe character "Hanna Flanders" is based on the life of German author Gisela Elsner, Oskar Roehler's real life mother, who committed suicide in 1992.
Details
Box office
- Gross worldwide
- $41,479
- Runtime1 hour 50 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1