Sparta

« Ulrich Seidl achieves his best film in the dark portrait of pedophilia in ‘Sparta’. […] It is a film about identity, about guilt and, most obviously, about pain. »
El Mundo

Synopsis

Ewald moved to Rumania years ago. Now in his 40s, he seeks a fresh start. Leaving his girlfriend, he moves to the hinterland. With young boys from the area, he transforms a decaying school into a fortress. The children enjoy a new, carefree existence. But the distrust of the villagers is soon awoken. And Ewald is forced to confront a truth he has long suppressed.

  • 70th San Sebastian International Film Festival: Competition, 2022

Director

Filmography

  • 2022 Sparta
  • 2022 Rimini
  • 2016 Safari
  • 2014 In the Basement
  • 2013 Paradise: Hope
  • 2012 Paradise: Faith
  • 2012 Paradise: Love
  • 2007 Import Export
  • 2006 Brothers, Let Us Be Merry (short)
  • 2004 Our Father (filmed stage play, Volksbühne Berlin)
  • 2003 Jesus, You Know
  • 2001 State of the Nation
  • 2001 Dog Days
  • 1998 Models
  • 1998 Fun Without Limits (TV)
  • 1997 The Bosom Friend (TV)
  • 1996 Pictures at an Exhibition (TV)
  • 1995 Animal Love
  • 1994 The Last Men (TV)
  • 1992 Losses To Be Expected
  • 1990 Good News
  • 1989 War in Vienna (co-directed with Michael Glawogger)
  • 1984 Look 84 (fragment)
  • 1982 The Prom (short)
  • 1980 One Forty (short)

Cast

Georg Friedrich, Florentina Elena Pop, Hans-Michael Rehberg, Marius Ignat, Octavian-Nicolae Cocis

Crew

Script: Ulrich Seidl, Veronika Franz
Cinematography: Wolfgang Thaler, Serafin Spitzer
Sound: Klaus Kellermann
Editing: Mona Willi
Producers: Ulrich Seidl, Philippe Bober, Michel Merkt
Associate producers: Veronika Franz
Executive producers: Sarah Nagel, Isabell Wiegand, Dan Wechsler, Jamal Zeinal-Zade, Andreas Roald
Production: Ulrich Seidl Filmproduktion (AT)
Co-production: Parisienne de Production (FR), Essential Films (DE), Bayerischer Rundfunk (DE), Arte France Cinéma (FR)
In association with: Bord Cadre films (CH), Sovereign Films (UK)

Technical Data

Format: DCP / colour / 5.1
Runtime: 101′
Released: 2022
Language: German, Romanian
Subtitles: English, French