Colonia (film)

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Colonia (2015) is an international historical thriller directed by Florian Gallenberger. A UK-German-Luxembourg-French co-production, it stars Emma Watson as Lena, Daniel Brühl as Daniel, and Michael Nyqvist as Paul Schäfer. The story is set in 1973 Chile, during Augusto Pinochet’s coup and the rise of the Colonia Dignidad cult run by Schäfer.

Plot
Lena, a West German Lufthansa flight attendant, travels to Santiago to be with her partner Daniel, a German journalist and activist. When the coup unfolds, Daniel is kidnapped by Pinochet’s secret police, DINA, and Lena is drawn into Colonia Dignidad, a secluded enclave led by Schäfer that hides a brutal cult and a prison system for dissidents. Lena befriends a nurse named Ursel, and together they plan an escape to reach safety in West Germany. After a violent struggle and Ursel’s death, Lena and Daniel manage to flee to the West German embassy and obtain new passports and flight arrangements. They ultimately leave Chile, bringing evidence of Colonia Dignidad’s crimes with them.

Cast
- Emma Watson as Lena
- Daniel Brühl as Daniel
- Michael Nyqvist as Paul Schäfer
- Richenda Carey as Gisela
- Vicky Krieps as Ursel
- Julian Ovenden as Roman Breuer
- August Zirner as German Ambassador
- Other supporting cast members

Production
The film is an international co-production with shoots in Luxembourg, Germany, and Argentina. Principal photography began on October 2, 2014, in Luxembourg, with additional filming in Munich, Berlin, and Buenos Aires. The project was inspired by real events surrounding Colonia Dignidad and the Chilean dictatorship.

Release
Colonia premiered at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in the Special Presentations section. It screened at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2016. Germany released the film on February 18, 2016, the United Kingdom on July 1, 2016, and France on July 20, 2016. The U.S. and Canada received a limited release starting April 15, 2016.

Reception and box office
The film received mixed reviews, holding a 26% rating on Rotten Tomatoes from critics. It grossed about $3.6 million outside the U.S. and Canada, with a worldwide total of around $3.62 million. In Germany, it had a strong opening weekend and continued to perform for several weeks. Colonia earned several nominations at German film awards and won a Bavarian Film Award, among other recognitions.

Accolades
Colonia received multiple nominations at German film awards, including Best Supporting Actor, and won the Bavarian Film Award for its production. It also earned nominations and coverage from various film industry outlets and awards bodies.