Effigy: Poison and the City
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Effigy: Poison and the City | |
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German | Effigie – Das Gift und die Stadt |
Directed by | |
Written by |
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Produced by |
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Starring |
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Cinematography | Thomas Kist |
Edited by | Sven Pape |
Music by | Nic Raine with the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra |
Production company | GeekFrog Media |
Distributed by |
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Release date |
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Running time | 85 minutes |
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Effigy: Poison and the City (German: Effigie – Das Gift und die Stadt) is a 2019 historical thriller film about German 19th century female serial killer Gesche Gottfried, directed, co-written and co-produced by , marking his directorial debut. The film is based on original trial records, as well as inspired by main screenwriter Peer Meter's stage play "The Interrogation of Gesche Gottfried".
The film had its world premiere at on 21 September 2019.[2]
Plot[]
1828 in the German port city of Bremen: Young Cato Böhmer arrives to take up her new position as a city clerk, assisting investigating judge Senator Droste at the criminal court. She strives to become an attorney – at a time when women aren't even admitted to universities. As the duo investigates an alleged poison attack reported by master miller Steitz, they encounter Gesche Gottfried, a suave and attractive widow known for her philanthropic attitude. Gottfried also appears to be in danger. However she soon turns out to be a prime suspect in a series of killings, the victims of which include her parents, her three husbands, her children and her twin brother, as well as friends and neighbors. While searching for evidence, Droste comes under increasing pressure from Bremen's bourgeoisie, especially Captain Ehlers who demands the senator's support for his steam shipping company. But Droste, like Mayor Johann Smidt, sees the future in the emerging railroad technology. Cato Böhmer is just barely able to fend off a political intrigue of the captain against her boss. Albeit with forensic proof of arsenic poisoning remaining elusive, she and the senator desperately need to obtain a confession from Gesche Gottfried.
Cast[]
- Suzan Anbeh as Gesche Gottfried
- Elisa Thiemann as Cato Böhmer
- Christoph Gottschalch as Senator Droste
- Roland Jankowsky as Captain Ehlers
- Uwe Bohm as Kommissar Tonjes
- Marc Ottiker as Dr. Hoffschläger
- Eugen Krößner as Dr. Luce
- Ulrich Sachsse as Mayor Johann Smidt
- Christian Intorp as Müllermeister Steitz
Reception[]
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On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes Effigy: Poison and the City holds a "90% fresh" rating, based on 18 reviews, representing a positive response from critics.[3]
References[]
- ^ "Nova Vento Entertainment". Retrieved 16 November 2020.
- ^ Werner, Hendrik (20 September 2019). "Spielfilm über Bremer Giftmischerin: Arsen und Mäusebutter". Weser-Kurier. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
- ^ "Effigy: Poison and the City (2019)". Retrieved January 28, 2021.
External links[]
- Effigy: Poison and the City at IMDb
- Effigy: Poison and the City at Rotten Tomatoes
- "Review by Alan Ng". Film Threat. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
- 2019 films
- 2010s historical drama films
- 2019 biographical drama films
- 2019 directorial debut films
- 2019 thriller films
- Biographical films about serial killers
- Cultural depictions of female serial killers
- Films based on biographies
- Films set in 1828
- Films set in the 19th century
- Films shot in Germany
- German biographical drama films
- German films
- German historical drama films
- German historical thriller films
- German-language films
- Thriller films based on actual events