The Farewell - Production & Contact Info

The Farewell (2000)
97 min | Biography, Comedy, Drama

The Farewell (2000)

97 min | Biography, Comedy, Drama

It is one of the last days of an exceptionally hot summer in 1956. Bertolt Brecht (Bierbichler) is about to leave his lakeside house among the tall birches in Brandenburg to return to Berlin for the upcoming theater season. Most of the ...See moreIt is one of the last days of an exceptionally hot summer in 1956. Bertolt Brecht (Bierbichler) is about to leave his lakeside house among the tall birches in Brandenburg to return to Berlin for the upcoming theater season. Most of the women in his life are there: his wife, Helene Weigel (Bleibtreu); his daughter, Barbara; his old lover Ruth Berlau; his latest flame, the actress Käthe Reichel; and sensuous Isot Kilian, whose affections and body he shares with the rebel political activist Wolfgang Harich. The friends and lovers swim, write, eat, drink, and philosophize about art, politics, and life as the Stasi lurks all the while on the sidelines, waiting. The serenity of the country on this summer day stands in marked contrast to the storm of jealousy and egomania, betrayal and dashed hopes at whose center Brecht is trapped, struggling to make plans for a future that fate will end only days later. A brilliant ensemble cast and music by John Cale complement this fascinating portrait of one of Germany's leading modern artists. Written by Harvard Film Archive See less

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Cast	+ Add Cast
16 cast members

Name	Known for
Josef Bierbichler Bertolt Brecht Bertolt Brecht See fewer	The White Ribbon (2009)
Monica Bleibtreu Helene Weigel Helene Weigel See fewer	Four Minutes (2006)
Jeanette Hain Käthe Reichel Käthe Reichel See fewer	The Reader (2008)
Elfriede Irrall Elisabeth Hauptmann Elisabeth Hauptmann See fewer	Madame Bovary (1968)
Margit Rogall Ruth Berlau Ruth Berlau See fewer	Tatort (1970)
Samuel Finzi Wolfgang Harich Wolfgang Harich See fewer	Snake Eyes (2021)
Rena Dumont Isot Kilian (as Rena Zednikova) Isot Kilian (as Rena Zednikova) See fewer	Test of Courage (2016)
Birgit Minichmayr Barbara Brecht Barbara Brecht See fewer	Downfall (2004)
Tilman Günther Offizier der Staatssicherheit Offizier der Staatssicherheit See fewer	Radetzkymarsch (1994)
Paul Herwig Manfred Wekwerth Manfred Wekwerth See fewer	Colonia (2015)
Claudius Freyer Peter Palitzsch Peter Palitzsch See fewer	Enemy at the Gates (2001)
Emanuel Spitzy Jungpionier Jungpionier See fewer	The Farewell (2000)
Slawomir Holland Offizier der Staatssicherheit Offizier der Staatssicherheit See fewer	Schindler's List (1993)
Piotr Kryska Fahrer der Staatssicherheit Fahrer der Staatssicherheit See fewer	The Farewell (2000)
Ulrich Matthes Wolfgang Harig Wolfgang Harig See fewer	Downfall (2004)
Ilja Zmiejew Ruppi (uncredited) Ruppi (uncredited) See fewer	Smolensk (2016)