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A Celebration of Tom Tykwer, Germany's Finest Renaissance Man
Perhaps best known for the terrifying, yet romantic film Perfume, Tom Tykwer has many other titles up his sleeve. There are few people in the world of blockbusters who do so much of the work themselves. However, there aren't so many people who have even heard of Tom Tykwer. Though he is most famous for his directing accolades, he's also a composer, editor and sits on the board of Berlin's International Film Festival. This is a celebration of Tom Tykwer, a true renaissance man, and a selection of his most brilliant films.
Where it All Began
Born in 1965 in Wuppertal, Tom showed an interest in film making from an incredibly early age. At just eleven years old, Tom had already begun creating his own films on a Super 8 camera. Although these films never quite made it to blockbuster status, they did light a spark in this budding director. From here he was determined to work in the industry and after leaving school he found a job at the local art-house cinema. He worked here right up until leaving his hometown for the capital city, Berlin. Once settled in he found himself work as a projectionist, where he worked long hours, doing exactly what he loved most. After a short while he progressed to head of programming at the Moviemento Theatre.
His second venture into directing, after his eleven year old attempts, came in the form of the short film Because, which was released in 1990. He released several more short films before diving into his first feature length, Deadly Maria, which was released in 1993. His next feature film would be the one to cement him in German film making history.
Run Lola Run
Tykwer's first international hit came in the form of Run Lola Run. It was the most successful German film of the year and a hit with both audiences and critics alike. As well as directing, Tykwer played a huge part in the soundtrack, composing much of the music with his friends Johnny Klimek and Reinhold Heil. Better still, the title character was played by his long term companion Franka Potente, making its huge success even more special for Tykwer and friends.
The film follows Lola (Franka Potente) as she tries desperately to pay off enormous debts to save her boyfriend's life. It encapsulates the best of both the romance and thriller genres, with Tykwer's trademark intensity. It culminates in a roulette scene that would have anyone itching to spin the wheel. There's something special about a game of roulette, whether online or in person. The anticipation, the clicking of the spinner and eyes eagerly following the ball. Tykwer captures all of the emotion perfectly as Lola places her only chip on the number 22. It would be crazy to ruin the ending for you, but Run Lola Run is certainly a breakthrough film that's worth watching.
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer
Tykwer's next big hit was a film that was much anticipated, as the book it was based on had been such a success. The film was an adaptation of the novel Perfume, the story of a perfumier who will stop at nothing to create the most beautiful scent possible, including murder. The rights to the book were clamored for by many of the best writers and directors, but they were awarded to the team behind Tykwer eventually, on the strict orders of the author.
Tykwer was instrumental in the directing, casting and entire musical production for the film. He composed the music himself and enlisted the Berlin Philarmonic to play the final score for the film. The film itself almost made the German record books, as it was enormously expensive, costing 50 million euros to see it from start to finish. However, it grossed more than 135 million worldwide, securing Tykwer's name as a director once again. If you don't have time to sit down and finish the whole movie then it's certainly worth listening to the soundtrack, its haunting tunes have made their way onto many a chilling playlist.
Following the success of these films, Tykwer went on to direct many a successful movie: Cloud Atlas, A Hologram for the King, The International and Heaven, as well as several more of his titles are worth adding to your watch list. For such a talented individual, it might be time that Tykwer’s praises were sung a little louder.
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