WELCOME HOME
A film by ANDREAS GRUBER
Austria/Germany 2004, 35mm, 1:1,85, Colour, 2.930 m, 98 minutes, Dolby SRD
PRODUCTION COMPANIES
WEGAFilmproduktions GesmbH
A-1140 Vienna, Hägelingasse 13
Tel. +43 (1) 982 57 42
Fax: +43 (1) 982 58 33
and
Colonia Media Filmproduktions GmbH
D-50674 Cologne, Moltkestr. 131
Tel. +49 (221) 951 404-0
Fax. +49 (221) 951
SALES
WEGA-Film
PRESS OFFICE
WEGA-Film
© 2004
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PLOT SUMMARY
Two police officers are supposed to be deporting a black African back to Ghana. But when they arrive in Africa, all of a sudden the balance of power between black and white is turned upside down. This deeply-black comedy sees the white police officers being sent off on an absurd odyssey through a foreign land in which they are constantly confronted with their own prejudices which, with circumstances reversed, they find are now directed against them.
Andreas Gruber: Director's Statement
Precisely because of the serious political background to this story, I was determined to tell "Welcome Home" as a comedy. The excitement consisted in hitting the right note, with a great deal of sophisticated black humour. Never losing touch with the link to reality, and yet not coming across as either heavy or ponderous, was both a challenge and a balancing act in equal measure.
CAST
RÖSLERGEORG FRIEDRICH
SAMHABERRAINER EGGER
ISAACABDUL SALIS
ALTERMÜLLERJOHANNES SILBERSCHNEIDER
AMPOFOABDI GOUHAD
INGEJEANETTE HAIN
KARINNINA BLUM
MICHAELISBRIGITTE KARNER
PETRAHEMMA CLEMENTI
ANGEREREDMUND JÄGER
MR. ABEGAALOYSIUS ITOKA
PAYRHUBERMANFRED LUKAS-LUDERER
FRITZMICHAEL PINK
FOOTBALL PLAYERMANFRED ZAMINER
COACHWOLFGANG S. ZECHMAYER
MR. STUMPFREINHARD SIMONISCHEK
PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICERFRANZ STRASSER
AND
GERALD ESCHENAUER, THOMAS LACKNER, MIEMIE HU, ANA STEFANOVIC, ARMIN FELSBERGER, GEORGES KERN, ANTONIO MONFORT, ERROL TROTMAN HAREWOOD, GERNOT SCHMIDT, RUDI RUGGIERO, FRED NII AMUGI, ANJA HERDEN, GEORGE APPIAH KUBI, FREEMAN EKOW, DAVID DONTOH, AFUA ESTHER YIRENKYI, EMMANUEL ATO GHARTEY, JOJO ROBERTSON, JOSEPH ALLRUIST WIN, PIUS NANA KWAME MENSAH, KOFI ASAMOAH, KENNETH SENYO FIATI, EMMANUEL BINEY, JOSEPH EDUAKWA, EMMANUEL ABANKWA, GODWIN NIKOI KOTEY, EMMANUEL ZIGGY NETYSON, JAYMES BUTLER, MICHAEL OJAKE, MARIE-HELENE ECHARD, ERIC BOAKYE, VIVIENNE AJO ACHOR, JEAN-MARIE FORMADI, JOHN E. YAMOAH, KENETH QUASHIE, AGNES YANKSON
a.o.
CREW
DIRECTORANDREAS GRUBER
SCREENPLAYANDREAS GRUBER
MARTIN RAUHAUS
PRODUCERVEIT HEIDUSCHKA
CO-PRODUCERGEORG FEIL
FRANK DÖHMANN
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERMICHAEL KATZ
LINE PRODUCER GhanaKING AMPAW
PRODUCTION MANAGER GermanyPIT KRAUSE
PRODUCTION MANAGER GhanaJÖRG GROSSMANN
PRODUCTION COORDINATIONULRIKE LÄSSER
PRODUCTION COORDINATION GermanyCHRISTOPH WOLF
LOCATION MANAGERROMAN HASCHBERGER
UNIT MANAGERMATTHIAS MAYER
ASSISTANT DIRECTOROLAF R. BENOLD
DANA HAACK
ASSISTANT A.GruberLOLA RANDL
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHYHERMANN DUNZENDORFER
MUSICPETER ANDROSCH
HANNES KÖCHER
EDITORGUIDO KRAJEWSKI
SOUND ENGINEERMARC PARISOTTO
PRODUCTION DESIGNERBERTRAM REITER
ASSISTANT PRODUCTION DESIGNERVERONIKA MERLIN
PROP MASTERSCHRISTIAN HAIZINGER
STEFANIE LEHMKUL
COSTUME DESIGNER ESTHER WALZ
MAKE UP ELLEN HOFMANN-JUST
FRIDERIKE WEBER
CASTINGMARKUS SCHLEINZER
LISA OLAH
SUSANNE RITTER CASTING
GAFFERMICHAEL BEITZ
CHIEF GRIPOTTO KRATOCHWIL
THE PLOT
Yet another one of those stories we hear almost every day: refugees picked up on the Austrian border after a dramatic chase. And then we never hear of them again. The problem appears to have been solved as usual: detention on remand, and then deportation. But this time, events are completely different, for the story continues in Ghana, where suddenly everything is turned on its head.
One dark night, Isaac, a black African aged around 25, crosses the border illegally into Austria. He rapidly becomes the star of a local village football team, and finds himself a girlfriend just as fast. By chance the police discover that his British passport is a forgery. The authorities assume that Isaac is a Ghanaian national, but he vehemently denies this. All the same, the decision is made to deport him.
Two police officers, Rösler and Samhaber, are instructed to take Isaac to Accra by plane. But once they get there, everything suddenly starts to go wrong. Major Makebi, chief of the immigration authority in Accra, is absolutely convinced that Isaac's repatriation certificate is a fake, and refuses to allow him entry into Ghana. Because the two police officers have attempted to deceive him, Makebi confiscates Rösler and Samhaber's passports. Until the matter is cleared up, they will not be allowed to leave Accra.
However, Rösler and Samhaber have not come prepared to stay in Ghana, having thought they would be flying straight back home on the same plane. As a result, with scarcely any money on them, they are unable to find any accommodation, and neither do they manage to get any money at the bank, since they are not able to present their passports. To make matters worse, it is the weekend, and the Austrian Consulate in Accra is closed until Monday.
Like refugees, Rösler and Samhaber find themselves having to spend the night together with street children in a wrecked car. They are freezing cold, since it is the rainy season in Accra, and already very hungry. So the next morning, the two officers attempt to steal a few items of food from the market. They are immediately caught in the act, and taken away to be locked up in Accra police station. No-one believes the absurd story they tell about being police officers, and the Ghanaian police assume them to be wanted British drug dealers who have been sought for some time. And so, Rösler and Samhaber remain in police custody. At least until the Austrian Consulate in Accra opens again on Monday …..
ANDREAS GRUBER
Born in Wels in Upper Austria.
1974-1982
Studies at the University of Vienna, Section Film & Television, subjects: Script and Direction, Mag.art.; Assistant Director of Axel Corti
Since 1978 free-lancing as Screenwriter and Director.
April 2001 – August 2002
Professor for Script and Dramaturgy at the Academy of Art and Media in Cologne, Germany.
Since September 2002
Professor of Direction and Script at the University for Television and Film in Munich.
2004Das Blaue vom Himmel
Documentary for ORF - Screenplay and Director
Die Heimatkunde des Realitätenhändlers
Documentary for ORF - Screenplay and Director
2003Welcome Home
Screenplay and Director
Austrian/German Coproduction for Cinema
Hofer Filmtage 2004
Moscow Int. Film Festival (In Competition) 2005
2001Bella Block XII - Im Namen der Ehre
Thriller for ZDF - Director
„Sein Kampf“
Documentary for ORF - Screenplay and Director
2000Die Gutmenschen
Documentary - Screenplay and Director
1998Sonderauftrag Linz
Documentary - Screenplay and Director
Awards: Romy 2000 für beste Fernsehregie
1997 Die Schuld der Liebe (The Debt of Love)
Int. Production for Cinema with Sandrine Bonnaire, Rüdiger Vogler,
Hanns Zischler, a.o.
Screenplay and Director
Filmfestival San Sebastian (In Competition) 1997
Hofer Filmtage 1997
Viennale 1997
Int. Filmfestival Brussels (In Competition) 1998
Int. Filmfestival Göteborg 1998
1995Das verletzte Lächeln
ZDF-TV Feature - Screenplay and Director
1994 Hasenjagd - Vor lauter Feigheit gibt es kein Erbarmen
Feature Film - Screenplay and Director
Awards:
Spezialpreis der Jury, Filmfestival San Sebastian 1994
Kritikerpreis, Festival International Du Film D´Amiens 1994
Kulturpreis für Filmkunst des Landes OÖ 1994
Preis der Publikumsjury, Diagonale Salzburg 1994
1. Preis FilmFest Schwerin 1995
Nominierung zum Deutschen Bundesfilmpreis 1995 (Best Film)
Großer Preis, Int. Filmfestival Figueira da Foz 1995
Österreichischer Filmpreis Goldenes Ticket 1995
Sonderpreis der Kath. Filmkommission 1995
Deutscher Kritikerpreis für Film 1995
Preis der Österreichischen Filmtage Wels 1996
Invited to more than 60 Filmfestivals worldwide.
1991Erste Wahrnehmung
Documentary - Screenplay and Director
FIPA 1992 Cannes
1989 Shalom General
TV Feature - Screenplay and Director
Awards:
Max Ophüls Preis, Saarbrücken1990
1. Preis Filmschau Nürnberg 1990
Fernsehpreis der österreichischen Volksbildung für 1989
1. Preis für besten Fernsehfilm, FIPA Cannes 1991
Kritikerpreis, Int. Filmfestival Verona 1991
1988T4 - Hartheim 1, Sterben und Leben im Schloß
Documentary Codirector: Egon Humer und Johannes Neuhauser
Awards:
Stern des Jahres 1988 der Münchner AZ für die beste Fernsehproduktion
Nominierung zum europäischen Filmpreis 1989
Unda-Preis 1989 für die beste Fernsehproduktion
1987Leichenreden
TV Feature - Screenplay and Director
Awards:
Internationaler Unda/Wacc Preis 1989 Hilversum
1985Ein wenig Wärme für die Nacht
TV Feature for ORF - Screenplay and Director
1984Unser Mann in Bangkok
TV Feature for ORF - Screenplay and Director
1983Drinnen und Draußen
Feature Film - Screenplay and Director
Awards:
Max Ophüls Förderpreis`84 Saarbrücken
Berlinale`84, Viennale`84
1980 Ab morgen wird sich alles ändern
Graduation Film - Screenplay and Director
Awards:
Bundesfilmförderungspreis 1982
2. Preis Goldener Bobby 1981
since 1980 more than 50 Documentaries for ORF e.g.
Icarus-SkyArtConference
Andere Avantgarde
Der österreichische Filmalltag
Besser die Hände gefesselt als der Wille
Die Stadt in der Wüste
1978 Besucherdienst
TV Feature for ORF - Screenplay and Director
GEORG FRIEDRICH
Born in Vienna 1966
Shootingstar 2004
Cinema
2004„In Orbit“, Director: A. Maccarone
„Keller, Director: E. Urthaler
„Spiele leben“, Director: A. Swoboda – leading part
2003 „Welcome Home“, Director: A. Gruber
„C(r)ook“, Director: P. Danquart
„Auf Wolke 7“, Director: M. Grimm
„Silentium“, Director: W. Murnberger
2002 „Wolfzeit“ , Director: M. Haneke (Cannes 2003)
„Hurensohn“, Director: M. Sturminger
„Donau“, Director: G. Rebic
„Böse Zellen“, Director: B. Albert
„Kaltfront“, Director: V. Hirtz
„Nacktschnecken“, Director: M. Glawogger
2001 „Hundstage“, Director: U. Seidl (Venedig 2002)
„Die Klavierspielerin“, Director: M. Haneke (Cannes 2001)
a.o. „71 Fragmente einer Chronologie des Zufalls“, Director: M. Haneke
„Der 7. Kontinent“, Director: M. Haneke
„Ein Sohn aus gutem Hause“, Director: K. Brandauer
„Kinder der Landstrasse“, Director: U. Egger
TV-Films
2004 „Liebe Amelie“, Director: M. Pfeiffer
2002 „Tatort“, Director: M. Weinhart
2001 „Blumen für Polt“, Director: J. Pölsler
2000 „Polt muss weinen“, Director: J. Pölsler
„Die Verhaftung des Johann Nepomuk Nestroy“, Director: D. Berner
a.o.: „Opernball“, Director: U. Egger
„Die Liebe des Ganoven“, Director: P.I. Huemer
„Wanderjahre“, Director: B. Fischerauer
„Das Geständnis“, Director: K. Kino
RAINER EGGER
Born in Innsbruck.
CINEMA
2003“WELCOMEHOME”,Director:AndreasGruber
2002„STRUGGLE“,Director:RuthMader
2001„VOLLGAS“,Director:SabineDerflinger
2000„DIEGOTTESANBETERIN“,Director:PaulHarather
„COMMERCIALMEN“,Director:LarsKrawinkel
1999„PAULISDEAD“,Director:HendrikHandloegten
1998“THEREDVIOLIN”,Director:FrancoisGirard
“DIESCHULDDERLIEBE“,Director:AndreasGruber
1997„DERUNFISCH“,Director:RobertDornhelm
1994„HASENJAGD“,Director:AndreasGruber–leading part
1992„HALBEWELT“,Director:FlorianFlicker–leading part
1990„SHALOMGENERAL“, Director:AndreasGruber–leading part
1988„WALLERSLETZTERGANG“,Director:ChristophWagner
1986„PARADISEGMBH“,Director:NikolausLeytner
1982„PHOENIXUMDIEECKE“, Director:PeterPatzak–leading part
AWARDS:
“Best Actor Award: MaxOphüls-Festival1990”
“Best Actor Award:Alpinale1987“
TV-Films (Selection):
2004„SOKOMÜNCHEN“,Director:BodoSchwarz
„TRAUTMANN“,Director:ThomaRoth
„DIEHEILERIN“,Director:HolgerBarthel
2002„DERBULLEVONTÖLZ“,Director:WernerMasten
„UMHIMMELSWILLEN“,Director:WolfgangHübner
„D.I.K.-JAGDAUFVIRUSX“,Director:AndreasSenn
2001„MEDICOPTER117“,Director:ThomasNikel
„ANDREASHOFER“,Director:XaverSchwarzenberger
2000„DIEFRAUDIEEINENMÖRDERLIEBTE“,Director:OlafKreinsen
1997„DIENEUE-MORDGESCHICHTENAMMONDSEE“,
Director:JörgGrünler,DetlefRönfeldta.o.–leading part
1996„KOMMISSARREX“,Director:WolfgangDickmann
„DERSEE”,Director:ThomasRoth
1995„DASVERLETZTELÄCHELN“,Director:AndreasGruber–leading part
1993„VERKAUFTEHEIMAT/Feuernacht/Komplott“,
Director:FelixMitterer
1992„DIESESNAIVEVERLANGEN“,
Director:GötzSpielmann–leading part
1987„PIZZASUNDBERGE“,
Director:HermannDunzendorfer– leading part
ABDUL SALIS
Born in London 1979
Parents are from Ghana, moved to London in 1975.
FEATURE FILMS:
Julius in ANIMALDirector: Rose Bosch, Animal Prods
Oumar in SAHARADirector: Breck Eisner, Sahara Prods
Isaac in WELCOME HOMEDirector: Andreas Gruber,
Wega-Film / Colonia Media
Tony in LOVE, ACTUALLY Director: Richard Curtis, DNA / Working Title
TELEVISION:
Rowan Angelis in GIFTEDDirector: Douglas McKinnon, Red Prods
Barry in TREVOR’S WORLD OF SPORT (7 Episodes)
Director: Andy Hamilton, Hat Trick Series
Noble in CASUALTY XVIIDirector: Richard Holthouse, BBC
Carlton in ROGER ROGER IIIDirector: Roger Bamford, BBC
Vince (Leading Character) in THE HIDDEN CITY
Directors: Luke Hyams /
Richard Johnson
THEATRE:
Leonardo in BLOOD WEDDINGDirector: Lawrence Kansor
Zan in THE ROADDirector: Nelson Danter
Riff in WEST SIDE STORYDirector: Veronica Caj
JOHANNES SILBERSCHNEIDER
Born in Mautern/Styria.
FEATURE FILMS/TV FEATURES (Selection):
2004Der arme Verschwender, Director: Michael Kreihsl
Der Bestseller III – Wiener Blut, Director: Dirk Regel
2003 Luisa Sanfelice, Director: Paolo und Vittorio Taviani
Welcome Home, Director: Andreas Gruber
Silentium, Director: Wolfgang Murnberger
Tatort – Tod unter der Orgel, Director: Walter Bannert
Die Verbrechen des Prof. Capellari, Director: Dirk Regel
Im Namen des Herren, Director: Bernd Fischerauer
2002In Liebe vereint, Director: Holger Barthel
2001Anne Frank – The Whole Story, Director: Robert Dornhelm
Trautmann – Nichts ist so fein gesponnen, Director: Thomas Roth
Zwei Affären und noch mehr Kinder, Director: Wolfram Paulus
Tigermännchen sucht Tigerweibchen, Director: Michael Kreihsl
2000Copyshop, Director: Virgil Widrich
Zwölfeläuten, Director: Harald Sicheritz
Tatort – Nichts mehr im Griff, Director: Walter Bannert
Tatort – Ein mörderisches Märchen, Director: Manuel Siebenmann
Trautmann – Wer heikel ist, bleibt übrig, Director: Harald Sicheritz
u.a.La niňa de tus ojos, Director: Fernando Trueba
Drei Herren, Director: Nikolaus Leytner
Das Schloß, Director: Michael Haneke
Charms Zwischenfälle, Director: Michael Kreihsl
Männerpension, Director: Detlev Buck
Kaspar Hauser, Director: Peter Sehr
I know the Way to the Hofbräuhaus, Director: Herbert Achternbusch
Die Flucht, Director: David Rühm
Niemandsland, Director: Herbert Achternbusch
Atemnot, Director: Käthe Kratz
Die Rebellion, Director: Michael Haneke
Internationale Zone, Director: Milan Dor
Die Jahrhundert-Revue, Director: Harald Sicheritz
Herrenjahre, Director: Axel Corti
An uns glaubt Gott nicht mehr, Director: Axel Corti
ABDI GOUHAD
Born in Somaliland, Residence London, U. K.
FILM
YOU CAN RUN....!Director: Lucy Bailey
WELCOME HOMEDirector: Andreas Gruber
DIRTY PRETTY THINGSDirector: Stephen Frears
I’LL SLEEP WHEN I’M DEADDirector: Mike Hodges
ROLLERBALLDirector: Norman Gewison
THEATRE (Selection)
Sinbad in THE CINNAMON VEILDirector: Sandy Maberley
Moses in BABY DOLLDirector: Lucy Bailey
Hamdi in TALES OF A CITYDirector: Sandy Maberley
Messenger in HIPPOLYTUSDirector: Sandy Maberley
Tereus in
THE LOVE OF THE NIGHINGALEDirector: Sandy Maberley
Sanyamo in SOUTHSEA BUBBLEDirector: Alan Davies
Gus in TOYS IN THE ATTICDirector: Leon Rubin
Mr. Bailey in
MRS BAILY GOES TO WARDirector: David Pammenter
Steve in SCENES FROM SOWETODirector: Mike Kay
Ismay in THE TITANICDirector: Jim Bywater
Abdi’s work also includes TV and Radio for BBC and Independent TV Channels.
NINA BLUM
Nina Blum was born in Vienna on 5 September 1977.
After graduating from high school, she studied psychology in Vienna and Barcelona. During her studies, she enrolled in a drama course at the Schauspielschule Krauss in Vienna, completing her training in 2001.
She also studied singing with James Moore, and dance (afro, jazz, flamenco) at the Tanzforum Wien.
Since then, she has performed in numerous theatre and musical productions which have included appearances at the Landestheater Graz, Raimundtheater, Stadttheater Klagenfurt, Reichenau Festival, Theater Kosmos Bregenz, die-Theater Künstlerhaus, Scala Wien and many other venues.
On television, she most recently appeared in Dinner for two and Sugar Granny (directed by Xaver Schwarzenberger) as well as in Gefühl ist alles (directed by Reinhard Schwabenitzky).
Welcome Home by Andreas Gruber is her first cinema movie.
BRIGITTE KARNER
Brigitte Karner was born in Völkermarkt, Austria, in 1957, and studied drama at the Schauspielakademie in Zurich. From 1976 to 1979 she performed in Basel and Zurich, appearing in plays by Shakespeare, Schnitzler and Gogol, amongst others. Since 1981 she has also appeared in television and cinema productions, including: 1981 Der Weg ins Glück (directed by Karin Brandauer), 1982 Das zweite Gesicht (directed by Dominik Graf), 1983 Unerreichbare Nähe (directed by Dagmar Hirtz), 1985 Der große Durchblick (directed by Peter Schulze-Rohr), 1991 Der große Bellheim (directed by Dieter Wedel) and 1995 Tödliche Wende (directed by Nico Hofmann). Brigitte Karner also appeared on numerous occasions in the crime series Derrick and Ein Fall für Zwei as well as in several episodes of Tatort, for instance in the 1987 Schimanski Tatort "Einzelhaft" (WDR; directed by Theodor Kotulla), in 1996 in the SFB-Tatort "Tod im Jaguar" by Jens Becker, and in 1997 in the BR-Tatort "Bluthunde" (directed by Peter Schulze-Rohr).
WEGA FILM
The Viennese film production company WEGA-Film was founded in 1980.
With its broad spectrum of promotional/commercial, documentary and feature films, today WEGA-Film is one of Austria's most outstanding film production companies.
The company's breakthrough in terms of success came in 1985 with the comic thriller MÜLLER’S BÜRO, directed by Niki List, and which became the most watched movie in Austria since the 1950s.
In the 1980s, WEGA-Film began working with leading director Michael Haneke. So far the company has produced nine of his feature films, including DER SIEBENTE KONTINENT (THE SEVENTH CONTINENT), BENNY’S VIDEO, 71 FRAGMENTE EINER CHRONOLOGIE DES ZUFALLS (71 FRAGMENTS OF A CHRONOLOGY OF CHANCE), FUNNY GAMES, DIE KLAVIERSPIELERIN (THE PIANO TEACHER), WOLFZEIT (TIME OF THE WOLF) and CACHÉ (HIDDEN).
In total, over 40 feature films have been produced over the past twenty years – many with international contributors and well-known directors such as Andreas Gruber, Michael Kreihsl, Wolfgang Glück, Paulus Manker, Michael Verhoeven, Xaver Schwarzenberger, Barna Kabay, Andreas Prochaska, Jack Gold, Jean-Michel Ribes and others.
In terms of documentary film, the directors with whom WEGA-Film has worked include Elisabeth Scharang, Manfred Corinne, Pierre Colibeuf and Ulrich Seidl; in addition, TV films have been produced with Michael Haneke, Peter Patzak, Johannes Fabrick, Gernot Friedel and Michael Cencig.
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WELCOME HOME