Von Werra

Switzerland / Germany, January 2002
FILM, Documentary, 102 min.

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directed by
Werner Swiss Schweizer
Written by
Martin Witz
Status
In distribution

Franz von Werra – fighter pilot for the German Luftwaffe during World War II, gentleman, favourite of the Nazi media, and the only German ever to escape British captivity. During the mid-50's, the spectacular escape to Canada and the USA was made into a film with Hardy Kruger in the leading role. Once again, von Werra became an important role model for young Germans: a courageous man who fends for himself to fight for his own wellbeing – but not on behalf of National Socialistic ideas. In 1941, von Werra lost his life in a mysterious crash. Numerous rumours regarding this incident, as well as his origins – for he was Swiss – developed. Using the feature film “The One that Got Away” as the starting point, film director Werner Schweizer, together with Hardy Krüger, follows the traces of this historical antetype.

credits

World Premiere
January 2002
Original Version
English, German,  colour und s/w, 35mm, 102 min.
Production
Dschoint Ventschr Filmproduktion AG, Lichtblick Film- und Fernsehproduktion GmbH, WDR - Westdeutscher Rundfunk Köln, SRF Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen
Producer
Werner Swiss Schweizer
directed by
Werner Swiss Schweizer
Written by
Martin Witz (in collaboration with Wilfried Meichtry)
Cinemato­graphy
Pio Corradi
Editing
Kathrin Plüss
Location Sound Mix
Martin Witz

World Sales / World Rights

World Sales
Peppermint Enterprises Ltd. & Co. KG

Worldwide Distribution

Germany
Real Fiction Filmverleih Distribution
Release date: 20.11.2003
Switzerland
Xenix Filmdistribution GmbH Distribution
Release date: 13.11.2002

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