A Trick of the Light

A Trick of the Light

79 mins | Drama | Nov. 28, 1995

A rare gem of cinematic storytelling that weaves docudrama, fictional reenactment, and experimental photography into a powerful, reflective work on the early days of German cinema. The film tells the story of the Skladanowsky Brothers, the German-born duo responsible for inventing the "bioskop", an early version of the film projector.

A Trick of the Light

79 mins | Drama | Nov. 28, 1995

A Trick of the Light
A rare gem of cinematic storytelling that weaves docudrama, fictional reenactment, and experimental photography into a powerful, reflective work on the early days of German cinema. The film tells the story of the Skladanowsky Brothers, the German-born duo responsible for inventing the "bioskop", an early version of the film projector.
IMDb rating 6.8
Producers Bayerischer Rundfunk, Hochschule für Fernsehen und Film München, Wim Wenders Productions, Wim Wenders Stiftung, Veit Helmer Filmproduktion, Bundesministerium des Inneren (BMI)
Original title Die Gebrüder Skladanowsky
Directors Eva Munz, Bodo Werner Lang, Björn Kurt, Barbara Rohm, Henrick Heckmann, Peter Fuchs, Markus Hansen, Britta Sauer, Sorin Dorian Drăgoi, Alina Teodorescu, Germán Kral, Matthias Lehmann, Veit Helmer, Sebastian Andrae, Florian Gallenberger, Carsten Funke, Stephan Puchner, Wim Wenders
Writers Barbara Rohm, Henrick Heckmann, Alina Teodorescu, Germán Kral, Veit Helmer, Sebastian Andrae, Florian Gallenberger, Wim Wenders

Cast

Udo Kier

as Max Skladanowsky

Otto Kuhnle

as Emil Skladanowsky

Christoph Merg

as Eugen Skladanowsky / Jongleur (Der Jongleur)

Nadine Büttner

as Gertrud Skladanowsky

Bodo Werner Lang

as Postbote

Rüdiger Vogler

as Hochradfahrer

Alfred Sczczot

as Spion

Wim Wenders

as Regisseur / Milchmann

Jürgen Jürges

as Self

Germán Kral

as Kamera-Assistent

Barbara Rohm

as Tonfrau

Florian Gallenberger

as Ton-Assistent

Marianna Kawka

as Josephine Skladanowky

Hans Moser

as Direktor Baron

Thomas Rosié

as Direktor Dorn

Brygida Ochaim

as Mademoiselle Ancion / Tänzerin (Serpentintanz)

Manfred Wopalka

as Auguste Lumière

Jürgen Schumann

as Louis Lumière

Rolf Zacher

as Max Skladanowsky (voice)

Wiebke Bayer

as Tänzerin (Italienischer Bauerntanz)

Larissa H. Gomez

as Tänzerin (Italienischer Bauerntanz)

Michael Krauss

as Darsteller (Komisches Reck)

Diego Patschenko

as Darsteller (Komisches Reck)

Angelika Kraml

as Boxerin (Das boxende Känguruh)

Lali Kovacz

as Akrobat (Akrobatisches Potpourri) / Ringer (Ringkampf)

Leon Jürges

as Akrobat (Akrobatisches Potpourri)

Lena Rüssman

as Akrobat (Akrobatisches Potpourri)

Daniele Drobny

as Acrobat (Akrobatisches Potpourri)

Stefan Barber

as Tänzer (Kamarinskaja)

George Inci

as Tänzer (Kamarinskaja) / Ringer (Ringkampf)

Mehmet Ali Ceyhanli

as Tänzer (Kamarinskaja)