Knockin' on Heaven's Door (1997 film)
Knockin' on Heaven's Door is a 1997 German crime tragicomedy film by Thomas Jahn, starring Til Schweiger, Moritz Bleibtreu, Jan Josef Liefers and Rutger Hauer. Its name derives from the Bob Dylan song which is also on the film's soundtrack. It was entered into the 20th Moscow International Film Festival where Til Schweiger won the Silver St. George for Best Actor.
| Knockin' on Heaven's Door | |
|---|---|
Theatrical poster | |
| Directed by | Thomas Jahn Til Schweiger (uncredited) |
| Written by | Thomas Jahn Til Schweiger |
| Produced by | Til Schweiger Thomas Zickler André Hennicke |
| Starring | Til Schweiger Jan Josef Liefers Moritz Bleibtreu Thierry Van Werveke Huub Stapel Rutger Hauer Hannes Jaenicke Ralph Herforth |
| Cinematography | Gero Steffen |
| Edited by | Alexander Berner |
| Music by | Franz Plasa |
Production company | Mr. Brown Entertainment |
| Distributed by | Buena Vista International |
Release date |
|
Running time | 86 minutes |
| Country | Germany |
| Language | German |
| Budget | 3,500,000 DM |
| Box office | $23.8 million |
The film has received widespread popularity in Russia and other post-Soviet states and has attained a cult status there. On the Russian-language online film database Kinopoisk it is currently ranked 18th best film of all time based off 680,000 votes.
In the film, two hospital patients with terminal diseases befriend each other. Wishing to see the sea before it is too late for them, they steal a roadster and start their quest. After several delays and criminal misadventures, they finally reach the ocean's shore. One of them dies soon after, while the survivor gazes at the ocean.