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Sandra Hueller, Burghart Klau??ner, Imogen Kogge, Karl Klinger, Friederike Adolph ... see more see more... , Anna Blomeier , Nicholas Reinke , Jens Harzer , Walter Schmidinger , Irene Kugler , Johann Adam Oest , Eva Löbau , Sandra Hüller , Burghart Klaussner

Director Hans-Christian Schmid helms this award winning account of a first-year university student whose bout with epilepsy leads to a tragic exorcism. Inspired by the same events that were previously... read more read more... dramatized in The Exorcism of Emily Rose, Requiem follows college freshman and devoted Catholic Michaela Klinger (Sandra Hueller) as she attempts to adjust to dormitory life while struggling to meet the growing pressures and academic expectations of school. Though a tentative friendship with temperamental classmate Hanna (Anna Blomeier) and a blossoming romance with easygoing chemistry student Stefan (Nicholas Reinke) at first find the shy student developing a pair of healthy bonds, an ill-advised abandonment of her medication regimen sets into motion a chilling series of events. Warned by a series of apparitions and disembodied voices that she should stay away from rosaries and crucifixes, Michaela seeks out the help of both her parents and amiable priest Father Landauer (Walter Schmidinger) to no avail. When Michaela becomes convinced that she is being made to suffer in the same manner of a well-known saint, well-intending pastor Borchert (Jens Harzer) hastily assembles an in-home exorcism that is doomed to end in tragedy. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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64% liked it

4,324 ratings

Critics

88% liked it

34 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 32 min.

Directed by: Hans-Christian Schmid

Release Date: October 20, 2006

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DVD Release Date: March 6, 2007

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Flixster Reviews (278)

  • rubystevens
    November 24, 2009
    rubystevens
    a tragic clash of science and superstition inspired by the case of a mentally ill and very religious german girl who died under exorcism in the 70s. the film is understated and plays almost like a documentary
  • DrBenway
    November 20, 2009
    DrBenway
    Don't see this expecting something in the vein of The Exorcist. There aren't any spinning heads or projectile vomiting and no sign of the demon Pazuzu here. Instead, Requiem is a non-sensationalized, non-judgmental look at what happens when mental illness clashes with religion.... read more Based on the same case that inspired The Exorcism of Emily Rose, but the two films are different. Emily Rose focused primarily on a lawyer involved in a court case involving the Priest who performed the exorcism, while Requiem focuses on the woman and is a drama about what can lead someone to believe they are possessed.

    The topic of exorcism may be easy "go to" material for horror films, but Requiem is not a horror film and the director doesn't decide for us whether or not she is possessed, but instead lets us draw our own conclusions. Lead actress Sandra Huller is really great throughout the film and the handheld camerawork is a nice touch in making the viewer feel as if they are in the room alongside her family.

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  • ironclad1609
    November 20, 2008
    ironclad1609
    Like "The exorcism of Emily Rose" this film is (merely) inspired by the true events around Anneliese Michel in Germany of the 70s. A girl raised in strictly catholic terms battles with epilepsy as she is struggling to start a new life as University student. The grasp of her relig... read moreious upbringing, especially in the shape of her mother, are pretty much choking her, creating an opposite reaction that leads to the church labeling her possessed, culminating in a series of unfortunate exorcism attempts. The film spares us the ugly details of those and reports about the outcome in a final info text. It doesn't give creed to the obsession-theory and therefore doesn't contain horror scenes of demons or anything like that. The movie also doesn't concentrate the blame on a single party involved and simply portrays a person who couldn't function under the pressure she got from many sides, despite of being loved by them none the less. It is the great acting that makes this slow and quiet film interesting and raises it above average. Especially Sandra Hüller in the main role does an extraordinary job.
  • pier007
    July 1, 2008
    pier007
    The German counterpart of "The exorcism of Emily Rose" but with more emphasis on the family and the human drama. told with lack of grandeur and ostentation, which is not ultimately too impressive, it is a correct approach but the ending was a little anticlimactic for my taste. Sa... read morendra Hüller's performance is by far the best of all.
  • ceWEBrity
    June 10, 2007
    ceWEBrity
    Requiem is an odd little movie. It's a subversive, tiny attack on basically everything - conservative idealism, the medical system, religion. The movie is angry, but it can't decide what to be angry at. And spearheading all of this rage is mousy, disheveled Michaela. This poor gi... read morerl, played brilliantly by Sandra Huller, is a total mess. Everyone around her has a different opinion as to what will make her better; not even she can decide. It starts to seem like nothing can.

    You're bound to see where the movie's going. Michaela's fate is bleak. She's a good person, though, and you really root for her to get better, because she deserves more out of the world than what she's gotten so far. A repressive home life and a neurological disorder spell out a pretty shitty existence for your typical German girl growing up. And when she tries to make strides for herself, it all interferes. Her mother hates the fact that she's going to college; she doesn't think she's well enough. Is it genuine concern, or jealousy? Methinks there's a little of both. Her father, on the other hand, is too lax, allowing her independence that Michaela's probably not ready for yet.

    She does have positive support systems, in the form of Hanna and Stefan, her friend and boyfriend at the university. They don't seem to have a firm enough grip on what's wrong in Michaela's head, though. Her final options come in the form of the clergy, who think that God is the solution to everything. If there's one thing that Requiem says very clearly, it's the opposite of that - there are some situations that God cannot resolve. A heartbreaking truth.
  • gor41
    May 6, 2007
    gor41
    Impressive evocation of drab 70's life and the clash of religion and medicine in trying to explain mental illness
  • ryguy4738
    May 11, 2011
    ryguy4738
    7.3/10

    "Requiem" is a rather ingenious and intelligently plotted little drama that also doubles as some sort of horror film. It starts and ends as a drama, yet it brings out the horrors of reality and its many pleasures. In other words, the horror and ... read morethe atmosphere leading to one such thing are always present, it just takes some time for them to activate. If you can wait until then, and if you are forgiving, then you may enjoy "Requiem". A film such as this can't be called "entertaining" for at least 50% of the time, but more-so interesting. It's an art film, no doubt, but it succeeds at what it does with style and wit. Many films like this one fail, but here's one that knows what it is and what it's doing.

    The strength is in the central performance, which is brought to us by Sandra Hueller. This is one of those films that, for all its flashy artistry, gives me the feeling that it would be nigh nothing without that one great performance. Well, this is that performance.

    Hueller plays a character so troubled by her emotional and psychological demons that she falls into a dark pit of torment and hell. This may all be a result of her epilepsy, but she suspects it may be demonic possession. So do the other devoted Christian men and woman who surround her. The focus of the story is not just this issue, but also the new doors that open up for this character. She experiences romance, happiness, and friendship while taking a College Course. But of course, there's that good old psychological distraction.

    This brings us to an exorcism. The exorcism in this scene is well-done and emotional riveting, I must admit, and it's also one of the best I've seen in years. It doesn't go out with a huge "bang", and I don't suppose it will impact everyone. I'm not even sure how much it impacted me. But this scene, and this scene alone, proved that this is a real, genuine exorcism drama; and it's not faking it.

    The art-house ambitions of the film are no different of that of any other art-house film, which isn't really a bad thing, considering this film knows that it is art. It's not the highest of art, and it's not perfect, but the tale it tells is worthwhile and sometimes moving. The film itself feels like one of personality. It must have been personal for the director, and the story will be personal to many, many people.

    The only real problem with "Requiem", when it all boils down to the overall goodness of the film, it its appeal. There's a lot here that people could hate, while there's also plenty to like as well. Take your pick, that's really all I can advise you to do. Religious horror can be either terrifying or ridiculous, and here, it's a little bit of both. "Requiem" is no classic, and it's not a great film, but it accomplished just about everything that it possibly can. If it intends to intrigue and maybe dazzle, then it has done its job, and it has done it well.

    There's potential here for the filmmakers and some of the stars. I don't think that all potential will be used, but hey: at least one movie got attention, and that movie is, of course, this one. "Requiem" is simply the kind of movie that portrays ugly and disturbingly psychological horror-events, yet it leaves you in a good mood. There aren't enough films that do that. Maybe there is a special quality to "Requiem" after all. Few films can juggle two genres with such mastery, but here's a movie that does so. If you enjoy a good drama, or a horror film, then you might want to see "Requiem". If you know why certain movies are good, certain movies are bad, and why some are just plain ugly; then maybe, just maybe, you'll love the film. There's potential for you do so, but since it is not for everyone, "Requiem" can only be recommended to the most patient and thoughtful of movie-watchers.
  • wbgoose13
    September 16, 2007
    wbgoose13
    Huller unnerves in true-life story of German girl possibly possessed.
  • littlecharmer1959
    August 28, 2008
    littlecharmer1959
    An interesting film. Whilst most films dealing with exorcism focus on the more horrific details, 'Requiem' is more about the build-up and the dramas faced by the main character.
    The acting, especially that of the main character played by Sandra Huller, is very good. Hans-Chris... read moretian Schmid has also done a good job in allowing the viewer to form their own opinion over whether the girl was possesed or whether it was down to her illness.
  • falcons84
    January 4, 2007
    falcons84
    Very minimalistic film based on the true story of a girl who died after an exorcism, which doesn't resort to the kind of flashy special effects seen in The Exorcism of Emily Rose to convey the main character's suffering. However, the movie seems to be rather murky in its ideals, ... read moreand although it seems to be criticizing an increasingly secular society through the characters of Hannah and the priest and through Michaela herself, it's rather unclear on that front. Perhaps it's a statement of how confused Germany's spirituality has become, but it didn't speak clearly to me. The acting is quite good, especially from the main actress, but I found the movie a bit too distant to be compelling. Interesting watch though.

View All Requiem Reviews

Critic Reviews

Wesley Morris
November 24, 2006
Wesley Morris, Boston Globe

Working from an economical and intelligent script by Bernd Lange , Schmid directs his first feature with the easy conviction that eluded the makers of the preposterous Emily Rose. Full Review

Bill Stamets
November 17, 2006
Bill Stamets, Chicago Sun-Times

Stage actress Sandra Huller delivers a stunning, understated performance... Full Review

Martin Rubin
November 16, 2006
Martin Rubin, Chicago Reader

The nonsensationalistic results are also somewhat ho-hum -- and oddly less convincing than Friedkin's lurid mess, let alone the elegant satanism sagas of Tourneur and Polanski. Full Review

Michael Phillips
November 16, 2006
Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune

The confusion and panic and everyday interactions in Requiem feel honest and true-to-life, which has nothing to do with how factual it is, or isn't. Full Review

Kevin Thomas
November 2, 2006
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times

In lesser hands, Requiem would seem merely bleak, but Schmid makes a rigorously urgent and compelling film out of Michaela's odyssey. Full Review

Owen Gleiberman
October 25, 2006
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

[Sandra Hüller's] intensity is so compelling you truly have no idea if those demons are real. Full Review

V.A. Musetto
October 20, 2006
V.A. Musetto, New York Post

You won't find rotating heads and vomit in the exorcism movie Requiem. Instead, German director Hans-Christian Schmid relies on a frighteningly realistic performance by Sandra Huller as blue-eyed blon...

Jeannette Catsoulis
October 19, 2006
Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times

Like The Exorcism of Emily Rose ... Requiem is loosely based on the real-life story of a West German woman who died in 1976 after a series of failed exorcisms.

Gene Seymour
October 19, 2006
Gene Seymour, Newsday

Just as haunting as a horror film and far more heartrending. Full Review

Jim Ridley
October 17, 2006
Jim Ridley, Village Voice

This quietly unnerving psychological study from German director Hans-Christian Schmid wields its ambiguity about religion and science like a double-edged blade. Full Review

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Requiem Trivia

  • This actor appeared in Fight Club, Girl Interrupted and Requiem for a Dream.  Answer »
  • What is the name of the director of the movies 'Requiem for a Dream', 'Pi' and 'The Fountain'.  Answer »
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  • "The exorcism of Emily Rose" and "Requiem" are both based on the true story of Anneliese Michel who lived in Germany  Answer »
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