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Ulrich Matthes, Marie-Lou Sellem, Floriane Daniel, Heino Ferch, Josef Bierbichler ... see more see more... , Laura Tonke , Agathe Taffertshofer , Jacob Donatz , Laura Maori Tonke , Sofia Dirscheri , Renee Schoenberg , Robert Meyer , Saskia Vester , Sebastian Schipper , Simon Donatz , Sophia Dirscherl , Werner Schnitzer , Floraine Daniel , Mary Lou Sellem

Winterschlaefer (Winter Sleepers) is the sophomore effort from German director Tom Tykwer, released a year before Lola Rennt (Run Lola Run) won him international acclaim for its unique look and storyt... read more read more...elling methods. Winter Sleepers follows a blizzard-filled winter in the lives of a handful of mountain town denizens: Marco (Heino Ferch), a dashing ski instructor; Rebecca (Floriane Daniel), his receptionist girlfriend; Laura (Marie-Lou Sellem), a nurse who is Rebecca's roommate; and Rene (Ulrich Matthes), a mysterious stranger who takes up with Laura. Before meeting them, Rene has unknowingly set into motion a tragedy that will affect the others' lives. While driving on an icy road (in Marco's stolen car), he swerves into the path of a destitute farmer taking his horse to the doctor, flipping the farmer's vehicle and sending his own careening down a snowy hillside. Rene emerges from the wreck unharmed, forgetting what has happened due to an old war injury that has damaged his ability to make short-term memories. When the farmer, Theo (Josef Bierbichler), emerges later to find that his young daughter had stowed away in the truck, and has been left comatose by the accident, he determines to track down the other driver. Meanwhile, not long after beginning his affair with Laura, Rene triggers Marco's jealousy when it seems Rebecca has feelings for him, prompting several tempestuous exchanges. ~ Derek Armstrong, Rovi

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77% liked it

1,764 ratings

Critics

76% liked it

21 critics

R, 2 hr. 2 min.

Directed by: Tom Tykwer

Release Date: January 1, 1997

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DVD Release Date: November 7, 2000

Stats: 91 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (91)

  • threefolddado
    May 18, 2012
    threefolddado
    A great ensemble story from the director of Run Lola Run.
  • AlaineB
    August 6, 2011
    AlaineB
    Intertwining interconnectedness or interconnected intertwinings. The twists of fate in the lives of several people in Germany. And there's snow. There are no winners in this one, except maybe two people.
  • sleepykiss
    September 25, 2008
    sleepykiss
    Certainly NOT as good as RUN LOLA RUN, but interesting nonetheless. Maybe if FPotente was a lead, it would have been better. See PRINCESS & THE WARRIOR.
  • bristowjoelmcfly
    December 28, 2006
    bristowjoelmcfly
    The Tykwer touches are there, but he has applied them to a story involving 5 unwatchable characters.

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Critic Reviews

Jeffrey M. Anderson
January 17, 2003
Jeffrey M. Anderson, San Francisco Examiner

A strong, atmospheric companion piece to Tykwer's Run Lola Run and a precursor to Memento.

Joshua Tanzer
February 26, 2002
Joshua Tanzer, Offoffoff

Some of the in-your-face techniques that made Lola such a wild ride are used in Winter Sleepers, but in small doses and in service of a much more complex story. Full Review

Carlo Cavagna
March 25, 2001
Carlo Cavagna, AboutFilm.com

Picture a cross between 'Run Lola Run' and 'The Sweet Hereafter.' If you can do such a thing, you have an idea of what Winter Sleepers is like. Full Review

Doris Toumarkine
January 1, 2000
Doris Toumarkine, Film Journal International

Confirms that Tom Tykwer is one of the most assured and effective young filmmakers from abroad storming our shores. Full Review

Michael Dequina
January 1, 2000
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com

Unconventionally affecting. Full Review

Derek Elley
August 8, 2008
Derek Elley, Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Andrew Sarris
April 27, 2007
Andrew Sarris, New York Observer

Click to read the article Full Review

July 21, 2005
Houston Chronicle

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Stephen Holden
May 20, 2003
Stephen Holden, New York Times

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April 25, 2003
Globe and Mail

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