WIR SIND DIE NACHT/ WE ARE THE NIGHT

Germany, 2010, 98 minutes, Colour.
Nina Hollis, Jennifer Ulrich, Karoline Herfuth, Max Riernelt.
Directed by Denis Gansel.

We are The Night was written and directed by Denis Ganwel, director of the very interesting films, The Wave and The Fourth State.

The film’s main appeal will be to those who like the vampire films, this one a variation on the theme with a group of female vampires. While some historical background is given about their eternal life and their eternal search for a mate, the action takes place in Berlin in the 21st century, especially at night.

Distinguished German actress, Nina Hollis (Yella, Jerichow, Barbara, Gold) is Louise, the leader of the group, who finds her soul-mate in a homeless girl, Lena. Lena resists at first but is transformed into a vampire. Her conflict is with the young policeman who pursued her when she was a pickpocket on the streets and has begun to fall in love with her. He is wounded in a pursuit and has to make a choice about his future, on earth, or with Lena.

1. A German vampire film? A vampire film with a difference? Contemporary? Women?

2. The Berlin setting, days and nights, more action in the nights? The historical background, the vampires in the 18th century, the visuals? The 21st century, the plane and its interior, shoppers’ behaviour and the deaths? the clubs, the homes? The police precincts? The streets and crime? The bridge? Night and darkness, the sun and its power on the vampires? The musical score in contemporary songs?

3. Louise as the leader of the vampires, a past history, the introduction and the talk about searching for the perfect mate? Louise and her group, going to Paris, the shopping, Charlotte and her reading the book, Nora and her music and noisiness? Their life as vampires? The explanation of the elimination of the male vampires?

4. Lena, her disguise, the attack on the man in the street, robbing him, the pursuit by the police, her eluding them, sitting on the bridge, Thomas talking to her, recognising her, her escape? Her spoiling the sting on the pimps? The later deaths in the prison?

5. Louise, rescuing Lena, menacing her, eventually transforming her? Lena and her fear, being bitten, the blood, sleeping, distaste of food, the bath and her being healed, her complexion, her head? Becoming part of the vampire group?

6. Thomas, is police work, his superior officer, Thomas not having a private life, the attraction towards Lena, the contact with her, her flight, her desperate phone call to him, coming to her rescue, the finale and the confrontation, his being wounded, his having to make a decision, vanishing with her? The police officer, his wishing him well?

7. The club, the sensuality, sexuality? Lena and her ambitions? Nora, the music? Charlotte and her continued reading? Norah and her being burnt by the sun? Louise not rescuing her? Charlotte and her decision to die by the sun?

8. Lena and Louise, the struggle, Louise out of the building, catching fire?

9. An interesting vampire story, variation on the themes?