Nowhere in Africa (film)

Nowhere in Africa (film) Nirgendwo in Afrika

Tagline: Sometimes home is where you least expect it.

Nowhere in Africa (German: Nirgendwo in Afrika) is an epic 2001 German film directed by Caroline Link and based on the autobiographical novel of the same name by Stefanie Zweig. It tells the story of a Jewish family that emigrates to Kenya during World War II to escape the Nazis and run a farm. The film won an 2002 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

Awards

Deutscher Filmpreis ("German Film Award": "Golden Lola") 2002
Best Film
Best Cinematography: Gernot Roll
Best Director: Caroline Link
Best Music: Niki Reiser
Best Supporting Actor: Matthias Habich
Bayerischer Filmpreis ("Bavarian Film Award") 2002
Best Production (Producer's Award)
Bayerischer Filmpreis ("Bavarian Film Award") 2003
Public Award
75th Academy Awards
Best Foreign Language Film

Cast

Juliane Köhler - Jettel Redlich
Merab Ninidze - Walter Redlich
Sidede Onyulo - Owuor
Matthias Habich - Walter Süßkind
Lea Kurka - Regina Redlich (younger)
Karoline Eckertz - Regina Redlich - Older
Gerd Heinz - Max
Hildegard Schmahl - Ina
Maritta Horwarth - Liesel
Regine Zimmermann - Käthe
Gabrielle Odinis - Dienstmädchen Klara
Bettina Redlich - Mrs. Sadler
Julia Leidl - Inge
Mechthild Grossmann - Elsa Konrad
Joel Wajsberg - Hubert
Miriam Wajsberg - Ruth
Marian Lösch - Johannes
Bela Klenze - Boy with sledge
Peter Lenaeku - Jogona as a boy
Silas Kerati - Jogona as an adult
Kanyaman - Kimani
Andy Rashleigh - Captain Caruther (as Andrew Rashleigh)
Anthony Bate - Mr. Brindley
David Michaels - Robert Green
Steve Weston - Mr. Morrison
Diane Keen - Mrs. Rubens
Andrew Sachs - Mr. Rubens
Ken Brown - Bure
Levit Pereira - Daji Jiwan
Steven Price - British officer in Norfolk
M.M. Shah - Patel
Herbert Knaup - Walter Redlich (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Aline Sokar - Girl
Lion Sokar - Boy

Plot

In 1938 the Redlich family flees to Kenya from Nazi Germany to escape the increasing persecution of the Jews. Walter, a former lawyer, finds work as a farm manager and sends for his family. His wife Jettel has trouble adjusting to life in Africa, although their daughter Regina quickly adapts to her new environment, easily learning the language of the country and showing interest in local culture. Regina soon forms a close friendship with the farm's cook, Owuor.

When war breaks out, the British round up all German citizens, and hold them, whether Jew or gentile, separating men from women. The Redlichs' marriage begins to deteriorate. Jettel sleeps with a German-speaking British soldier to secure work and a home on a farm for the family, and Regina and Walter both find out.

Walter decides to join the British army and wants Jettel to go to Nairobi with him, but she refuses and stays to run the farm with Owuor. By the end of the war, Jettel does not want to leave Africa, even though Walter is offered a position as a judge in post-war Germany.