The Commissioner (1998)

Director:

George Sluizer

Writers:

Stanley Johnson (novel)
Christina Kallas (writer)
(more)

Release Date:

22 February 1998 (Germany)

Genre:

Thriller

Plot:

A member of the British Government is sent to Brussels to become British Commissioner to the European Community...

Plot Keywords:

European | Political | Chemical Weapons | Based On Novel | Independent Film

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

John Hurt	...	James Morton
Rosana Pastor	...	Helena Moguentes
Alice Krige	...	Isabelle Morton
Armin Mueller-Stahl	...	Hans Koenig
Johan Leysen	...	Horst Kramer
Simon Chandler	...	Peter Simpson
David Morrissey	...	Murray Lomax
James Faulkner	...	Gordon Cartwright
Alan MacNaughton	...	Karl Ritter
Bill Bolender	...	Arthur Groom
Julian Wadham	...	Prime minister
Adrian Brine	...	President of Court
Max Gold	...	Morton Lawyer
Kevork Malikyan	...	Greek commissioner
John Abbott	...	Commissioner's Laywer
Sigo Lorfeo	...	Italian commissioner
Ian Halcrow	...	TV Lawyer
Judith Dawson	...	TV Journalist
Tom Zahner	...	Technician
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
John Warnaby	...	Hugo
Thorsten Wien	...	Reporter

Directed by
George Sluizer

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Stanley Johnson		novel
Christina Kallas		writer
George Sluizer		writer

Produced by
Luciano Gloor	....	producer
Andreas Grosch	....	line producer
Christina Kallas	....	producer
Jacqueline Pierreux	....	co-producer
Marc Samuelson	....	co-producer
Peter Samuelson	....	co-producer
Hubert Toint	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Loek Dikker

Cinematography by
Bruno de Keyzer
Witold Stok

Film Editing by
Denise Vindevogel

Production Design by
Heidi Lüdi

Art Direction by
Hucky Hornberger

Set Decoration by
Sonja Klaus

Costume Design by
Jany Temime

Production Management
Roshanak Behesht Nedjad	....	post-production supervisor
Marc Grewe	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Melanie Dicks	....	first assistant director
Mark J. Ingram	....	second assistant director
Schoko Okroy	....	third assistant director
Thorsten Wien	....	third assistant director

Art Department
Vince Ball	....	stand-by carpenter

Sound Department
Max Bauer	....	foley artist
Peter Flamman	....	sound editor
Stephan Konken	....	sound re-recording mixer
Wolfgang Wirtz	....	sound

Visual Effects by
Bret Culp	....	visual effects director: C.O.R.E. Digital Pictures GmbH
Thomas Mandl	....	visual effects coordinator
Thomas Mulack	....	digital effects producer: c.o.r.e. digital pictures GmbH

Camera and Electrical Department
Brian Beaumont	....	gaffer
Rodrigo Gutierrez	....	camera operator
Bruno Keller	....	best boy electric
Ron Nicholls	....	grip
Tamas Nyerges	....	steadicam operator
Robert Patzelt	....	assistant camera
Christian von Spee	....	second assistant camera

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Wilfrid Laudicina	....	assistant costume designer
Wilfrid Laudicina	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Daniel Funke	....	post-production intern (uncredited)

Transportation Department
John Coleman	....	driver

Other crew
Catherine Charlton	....	dialogue coach: Rosana Pastor
Rachel Cuperman	....	assistant producer: UK
Claudia Davids	....	assistant production accountant
Kerstin Dyroff	....	production coordinator
Eva Neufahrt	....	accountant
Peter Van den Borre	....	location manager

Production Companies

• Canal+
• Eurimages
• Metropolis Filmproduction
• New Era Vision
• Saga Film (I)

Distributors

• J&M Entertainment
• Showtime Networks
• Silvio Sardi Communications (1998) (Italy) (all media)
• Starmedia Home Entertainment (2007) (Germany) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Konken Studios  sound re-recording

Also Known As:

Commissioner - Im Zentrum der Macht, Der (Germany)

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

UK | Germany | Belgium | USA

Language:

English

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:12

Filming Locations:

Belgium

Company:

Canal+

Quotes:

James Morton: You're not by any chance some kind of feminist?
Helena: The worst kind! A Woman!

Excellent, but be prepared for convoluted triple twist

The Commissioner is a great film starring John Hurt as the British Commissioner of Industry in the EU. His acting as usual is intensely engrossing as Commissioner Morton uncovers industrial corruption on a grand scale. But wait, which company is the most corrupt? And who is responsible for all the killings? Is Armin Mueller-Stahl really a company man who came in from the cold? Complex plot with many twists, and if you can follow it you have my admiration.

But at heart this film's significance lies in its forceful stance against big industry. You'll never question the validity of the WTO protestors again.