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Set against the backdrop of the 1973 coup that toppled Chilean president
Salvador Allende and brought dictator Augusto Pinochet to power, the story
follows a European couple who fall foul of a brutal religious cult that is
in cahoots with the regime.
Arrested in the aftermath of the coup, German student activist Daniel ends
up in the clutches of German émigré preacher Paul Schäfer, an ex-Nazi whose
ostensibly charitable religious settlement, the Colonia Dignidad, more closely
resembles a prison camp than a utopian idyll.
Barbed wire and watchtowers encircle the cult’s compound, while the men and
women inside – dressed for special occasions in folky looking lederhosen and
dirndls – are strictly segregated. Secretly, Pinochet’s goons use the colony as
a torture camp.
Daniel’s girlfriend, plucky Lufthansa stewardess Lena, has little inkling of the
horrors that lie in store but is determined to rescue him and infiltrates the
sealed-off camp, posing as a believer. |
Michael: "No matter how you look
at it, he's a devil. I had to venture deep into my
own dark corners and open the hidden doors there to
play a character like Paul Schäfer. It's hard for me
to understand the character because almost
everything he has done is terrible and unthinkable."
"Many actors were actually hesitant to play
this role," Herrmann (producer) said. Swedish actor Michael Nyqvist, who became a household name thanks to his starring role
in the "Millennium” trilogy, was an early favorite,
but he was committed to other projects. "But having
him was so critical to the film’s dynamic that we
re-scheduled his shooting days to enable him to play
the part. Having him was a gift for us!" Herrmann
said. "His first day in front of the camera was at
the beginning of our third week of shooting,"
Director Gallenberger said. "It wasn't easy to
start filming without ever having seen the
antagonist, but when Michael Nyqvist appeared on the
set, every thing was clear immediately. His
incredible physical presence was made more ominous by our great
makeup artist Waldemar Pokromski, who transformed
him into a Paul Schäfer lookalike - it was
fascinating. Michael was not afraid to play a
character that is oppressive and repulsive. We were
all impressed by his performance." Indeed, Colonia
presents Paul Schäfer as a horrifying man but one
who believes in what he’s doing. "You have to look
into your own abyss in order to perform the
character of a villain," Nyqvist adds.
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"Colonia is an effective thriller,
not only in terms of how Leah will find Daniel (who
smartly uses a ruse to be largely left alone), but also
because of its peek into the horrors of physical and
psychological torture in the name of God. Nyqvist is the
standout here, with long, greasy gray hair while lending
Schäfer a disturbingly calm demeanor that everyone knows
hides an explosiveness underneath. Brühl is magnetic as
his Daniel is ever-watchful yet intensely in his head."
...Tricia Olszewski, Washington City Paper
"Based on a true story, this Chilean drama has a
chilling edge to it that's difficult to shake.
Strikingly well played by an international cast, the
film's dark themes get under the skin. German director-cowriter
Florian Gallenberger has a skilful eye that draws the
audience in, focusing on characters to provide a strong
emotional kick... Watson and Bruhl deliver remarkably
grounded performances as real people caught up in
unimaginable horrors. Underneath the intensity, both
actors are likeable and tenacious, and together they
have very strong chemistry. Meanwhile, the always superb
Nyqvist brings a genuinely unsettling nastiness to his
all-powerful father figure." ...Rich Cline, Contact
Music
"From a slow opening The Colony builds to a thrilling
finale reminiscent of Argo. Its main appeal is the sheer
madness of the story, particularly Nyqvist’s mentalist
performance... Michael Nyqvist brilliantly plays the
camp commander, leading the unhappy bunch like a
Teutonic Jim Jones. Schäfer uses violence and religious
mania to keep the inhabitants in check, leaving him free
to abuse the children in his care. In one remarkable
scene he attempts to raise a man from the dead." ..Ed
Owen, The Arts Desk
"Michael Nyqvist is suitably monstrous as cult leader
Paul Schäfer, an ex-Nazi and convicted child abuser."
...Stephen Carty, Radio Times
"Schafer is a sinister, reprehensible tyrant. However,
he’s a character we simply do not explore enough of, not
quite utilizing the talent of the brilliant Nyqvist, who
is tasked with embodying him. He is the story, it’s his
life and experiences which, though irrepressibly dark,
lay the foundations for this piece." ...Stefan Pape,
heyuguys.com
"As Schäfer, Nyqvist - sporting a perfectly dreadful
mullet - is truly despicable. His aggressively
chauvinistic language - from "cow", to "slut", to much
worse - lands the desired blows." ...Matthew
Anderson, Cinevue
"Schäfer is played with effective imperious chilliness
by Michael Nyqvist who also manages an unnerving
resemblance to the real-life figure." ...Glenn Kenny,
Rogerebert.com
"Nyqvist is also quite chilling as Schaefer. His scenes
are among the best in the film, and had the movie
focused more on Shaefer and his dirty dealings it might
have been a tougher but better film." ...Chris
Bumbray, Joblo.com
Colonia Dignidad is a camp run with an iron fist and
piercing stare by German expat Paul Schäfer - an
outstanding Michael Nyqvist." ...Marty Mapes, Movie
Habit
Watson and Bruhl’s performances are a big part of this
because we align ourselves with them fiercely. We want
them to survive Schäfer’s lunacy—itself a brilliant bit
of villainy from Nyqvist - and the ways they must
undermine his rule are suspenseful in their brutal
intrigue thanks to Oscar-winning co-writer/director
Florian Gallenberger‘s vision." ...Jared Mobarak, The
Film Stage
"The Colony has a hero worth rooting for; but we all
know the best heroes shine when they’re up against
villainous counterpart who’s just as good. Step in
Michael Nyqvist: chilling, intimidating and bearing a
strikingly disturbing resemblance to the real life
villain he’s playing. From a performance standpoint, it
fires on all cylinders." ...Kieran Fisher, The
Flickering Myth
"Michael Nyqvist stands out as cult leader Paul Schäfer,
a narcissist who keeps complete control over his several
hundred followers. The camp itself, miles from any town,
is completely self-contained with its own power supply
and food production. Nyqvist presents Schäfer as a
charismatic sadist who manages to convince his followers
step by step into blind obedience." ...Raymond
Johnston, Prague TV
"Michael Nyqvist makes a strong interpretation of
Schäfer, which in turn is reinforced by the fact that
the film is based on real events." ...Robert Jonsson,
Nordic.ign.com
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