email print share on Facebook share on Twitter share on LinkedIn share on reddit pin on Pinterest

PRODUCTION Germany

Veit Helmer wraps production of silent comedy The Bra

by 

- The German director is making a Cinderella story in the mountains of Azerbaijan

Veit Helmer wraps production of silent comedy The Bra
(l-r): Denis Lavant, Chulpan Khamatova, Veit Helmer and Miki Manojlović on the set of The Bra

Various secluded villages in Azerbaijan serve as the central locations for the romantic comedy The Bra [+see also:
trailer
interview: Veit Helmer
film profile
]
 by German writer-director-producer Veit Helmer (Absurdistan [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
, Tuvalu, Baikonur [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
). Day in, day out, an ageing loner operates a cargo train that trundles through the landscape of the Caucasus Mountains. As in his first feature, Tuvalu, Helmer tells the story entirely without dialogue. The mood is conveyed by the music of French composer Cyril Morin (The Syrian Bride). 

(The article continues below - Commercial information)

The daily journey undertaken by the train driver transforms into a playful tale driven by the search for Lady Luck and a piece of fabric. The tracks are located so close to the buildings that the residents need to take extra care with their laundry on the clothesline whenever the train passes by. Although a young orphan boy warns them with a whistle, items such as bed sheets often get caught on the train. On his last day of work, the engine driver finds a blue polka-dot bra on the locomotive when he returns to his home village. Out of loneliness and curiosity, he goes back to the village and starts to look for the owner of the blue bra. Wherever he spots petticoats hanging on a clothesline, he knocks on the doors of the housewives and housekeepers – but just like in Cinderella, only one woman can be the right one.

The leading part of the train driver is played by Miki Manojlović (Circus Columbia [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Danis Tanovic
film profile
]
, Underground). Further cast members include Denis Lavant (Holy Motors [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Leos Carax
film profile
]
, Beau Travail), Paz Vega (Spanglish, Sex and Lucia [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
), Chulpan Khamatova (Good Bye Lenin! [+see also:
trailer
interview: Wolfgang Becker
film profile
]
, Luna Papa), Maia Morgenstern (The Passion of the Christ) and Manal Issa (Parisienne [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
). Produced by Veit Helmer Filmproduktion in co-production with German broadcaster NDRThe Bra will be distributed theatrically in Germany by Neue Visionen Filmverleih. The international rights are handled by Pluto Film.

(The article continues below - Commercial information)

Did you enjoy reading this article? Please subscribe to our newsletter to receive more stories like this directly in your inbox.

Privacy Policy