Black Rainbow

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Movie
German title Black Rainbow
Original title Black Rainbow
Country of production Great Britain
original language English
Publishing year 1989
length approx. 98 minutes
Age rating FSK 16
Rod
Director Mike Hodges
script Mike Hodges
production Donald S. Anderson
Geoffrey Helman
John Quested
George A. Walker
music John Scott
camera Gerry Fisher
cut Malcolm Cook
occupation

Black Rainbow is the title of a British feature film from 1989 with Rosanna Arquette , Jason Robards and Tom Hulce in the lead roles. Mike Hodges directed the dark thriller . He also wrote the script himself. The film was shot in the United States in the US state of North Carolina .

action

Gary Wallace , a local newspaper journalist, travels to the United States to find a woman named Martha . Apparently after a long time he can find her, but he learns that she hasn't spoken a word for years and has also changed her name. He visits her anyway and asks her about a particular evening in the past, but she doesn't answer and instead slams the door in front of him. The film fades back:

Martha Travis travels through the small towns of the United States on the train with her father Walter . There she presents herself as a medium and describes herself as God's tool , chosen to serve the relatives as a link to the deceased. Accompanied by church choir and organ music, the two stage a show that attracts many paying people who, through Martha, hope to hear that the deceased will fare well in the afterlife. Martha and her father stay afloat from the income.

The whole thing works quite well until one evening Martha sends greetings from her deceased husband to an unknown woman. However, he is not dead yet, but sits alive at home in front of the television. The sensation is great and Martha is forced to apologize to the woman, although she said she had actually heard the voice. That same night, the man is brutally shot by a contract killer. The local press perks up and sends Gary Wallace after the two of them to investigate. It is said that Martha knows the identity of the murderer.

Gary, who doesn't believe in the story himself, follows them and tells them about the murder. Walter does not want to know anything about his daughter's ability to see into the future, but Gary learns that the mother was already on the way as a medium. When the next performance was on in the evening, the incident repeated itself. Martha talks to various people in the realm of the dead who are actually still alive. When an explosion occurs early in the morning in a local factory, killing many workers, Martha realizes that the voices were not imagined. And now it is also clear that the hit man is after her because she can identify him.

When there is another show the following evening, Walter stays in the hotel drunk and Martha is alone on stage - meanwhile under massive police protection. Rather than the bona fide people continue to pretend that she would with the happy souls speak of the dead, she explains to people that there is life after death does not exist. But she hears another voice from the future and realizes that her father has to die that night.

At the same time, Walter sees his daughter as a ghost in the hotel, as her mother once prophesied. At that moment he knows that his time has come. When he tries to escape, he meets the hit man. He also sees Martha's ghost and shoots at her. The fatal shots hit Walter and the prophecy comes true. The murderer dies in a hail of bullets from the police.

Meanwhile, Gary stayed with Martha, who passed out on her stage. He first comforts her, but then sets off to write his story. When he took a quick look around as he was walking, Martha suddenly disappeared. Years later, when he was able to find her, he couldn't get hold of her, but at least he was able to take a few photos. He shows it to his boss as proof, but there is no one to be seen in the photos - just an old overgrown and half-ruined house ...

Reviews

"Moderately exciting occult thriller without depth, which does not really know how to connect the threads."

“Exciting, atmospherically dense thriller about the medium Martha (Rosanna Arquette), which predicts several murders. A reporter (Tom Hulce) clings to their heels: the showdown takes place in a supernatural atmosphere. "

- Focus: film

“Exciting, atmospherically dense thriller with a supernatural touch and a large cast. Director Mike Hodges, whose “ On the Wings of Death ” will be fondly remembered by German video fans, can this time with the star trio Rosanna Arquette. Tom Hulce and two-time Oscar winner Jason Robards. Their great acting performances and the gripping staging will make the audience forget the rather thin story. "

- Video Week

Awards

Black Rainbow won five film awards and was nominated for another:

  • 1989: Prize of the Sitges Festival Internacional de Cinema de Catalunya for Rosanna Arquette for Best Actress .
  • 1989: Prize of the Sitges Festival Internacional de Cinema de Catalunya for Mike Hodges for Best Screenplay .
  • 1990: International Fantasy Film Award of Fantasporto - Festival Internacional de Cinema do Porto for Rosanna Arquette as Best Actress
  • 1990: International Fantasy Film Award of Fantasporto - Festival Internacional de Cinema do Porto for Mike Hodges for the best film
  • 1991: Mystfest Award for Rosanna Arquette for Best Actress .
  • 1991: Nomination: Mystfest Award for Mike Hodges for Best Film .

Web links