Strange Homeland

2007 1h 21m DE

Documentary

Synopsis

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The second part of Jens Schanze's cinematic chronicle of the village resettlements in connection with the “Garzweiler II” open-cast lignite mine operated by RWE AG. Using the 700-year-old village of Otzenrath near Düsseldorf as an example, the film tells how the people experienced their forced resettlement.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Jens Schanze
Writers: Jens Schanze, Judith Malek-Mahdavi
Languages: German
Countries: Germany

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

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Fun facts 🍿

1 / 6

RUNTIME

Did you know

81 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 6

ERA

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Released 19 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 6

RUNTIME

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 6

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Jens Schanze, shot by Börres Weiffenbach. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 6

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Jens Schanze shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 6

WILD

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IMDB entry: tt1300274 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Jens Schanze directs. Börres Weiffenbach behind the camera. Jens Schanze cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in Germany. Dialogue in German.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

181 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
2Released 19 years ago.
3Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
4Directed by Jens Schanze, shot by Börres Weiffenbach. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Editor Jens Schanze shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6IMDB entry: tt1300274 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.