West Germany / France,
1966, 84 min
Directed by:
Volker SchlöndorffCinematography:
Franz RathComposer:
Hans Werner HenzeCast:
Mathieu Carrière, Marian Seidowsky, Barbara Steele, Bernd Tischer, Fred Dietz, Lotte Ledl, Herbert Asmodi, Fritz GehlenVOD (1)
Plots(1)
In the pre-war Austro-Hungarian empire, Törless arrives as a new pupil at the elite boarding school "Prinz Eugen" in what is today Austria. When classmate Basini is caught stealing, Törless passively observes while two other classmates "punish" the thief. The two use sadistic rituals to torture and humiliate their victim while deriding him as their spineless submissive. Not until the two boys deliver Basini into the hands of a mob of agitated schoolmates does Törless publicly distance himself. (Berlinale)
(more)Awards
- Winner
- Nominations
German Film Awards
- 1966 - Best Feature Film
- 1966 - Volker Schlöndorff (Best Director)
- 1966 - Volker Schlöndorff (Best Screenplay)
Cannes Film Festival
- 1966 - Volker Schlöndorff (Fipresci Prize - Official Competition)
- 1966 - Volker Schlöndorff (Grand Prix International du Festival (1964-1974))