Colonia

Name: Colonia
Genre: Drama, History, Thriller, Romance
Released: April 15, 2016
Duration: 110 min
Rating: 33
Cast: Daniel Brühl, Emma Watson, Michael Nyqvist, Richenda Carey

2016

METASCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 15 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 66 Ratings

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7.1	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 66 Ratings

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Colonia

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Movie Details & Credits

Screen Media Films | Release Date: April 15, 2016

Starring: Daniel Brühl, Emma Watson, Michael Nyqvist, Richenda Carey

Summary: Chile, 1973. Lufthansa flight attendant Lena (Emma Watson) is in Santiago to visit her boyfriend, Daniel (Daniel Brühl), a talented graphic artist creating images in support of embattled President Salvador Allende. When Allende is violently ousted, General Augusto Pinochet's forces begin rounding up dissidents. Daniel is taken to the remoteChile, 1973. Lufthansa flight attendant Lena (Emma Watson) is in Santiago to visit her boyfriend, Daniel (Daniel Brühl), a talented graphic artist creating images in support of embattled President Salvador Allende. When Allende is violently ousted, General Augusto Pinochet's forces begin rounding up dissidents. Daniel is taken to the remote stronghold of Colonia Dignidad ("Dignity Colony"), home to a secret agricultural commune and crypto-fascist sect led by sinister minister Paul Schäfer (Michael Nyqvist). Daniel is interrogated and tortured, but feigns severe mental deterioration to stay alive. Valiant and wily, Lena travels to Colonia and offers herself up to Schäfer as a follower. She is determined to find and free Daniel — but first she must ensure that she herself can survive Schäfer's crushingly oppressive, viciously misogynistic practices.… Expand

Director: Florian Gallenberger

Genre(s): Drama, History, Thriller, Romance

Runtime: 110 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Michael O'Sullivan

Apr 14, 2016

Although genuinely gripping — at times, uncomfortably so — the tale of Lena and Daniel’s efforts to escape from Colonia and expose its abuses suffers from a heavy-handed telling. Read full review

Michael Rechtshaffen

Apr 14, 2016

The end product is a standard-issue cult drama that nevertheless has its gripping moments thanks mainly to the presence of Emma Watson. Read full review

RogerEbert.com Glenn Kenny

Apr 15, 2016

Watson and Bruhl give it their best, and Nyqvist makes a powerful villain, but Colonia winds up being a movie that wants to get its way on too many levels, and winds up not satisfying on most of them. Read full review

Randy Cordova

Apr 14, 2016

Unfortunately, what the filmmaker has wound up with is something that feels like it should be playing at the bottom end of a triple bill at a drive-in. Read full review

April Wolfe

Apr 21, 2016

Rather than a grand buildup, Colonia just gives the sense of one thing happening, and then another thing happening. Read full review

Neil Genzlinger

Apr 14, 2016

It somehow manages to feel more like a Hallmark Channel romance than like a serious film. Read full review

Jordan Mintzer

Apr 13, 2016

Colonia marks a truly misguided attempt to fabricate a Hollywood-style thriller out of the darkest quarters of Latin American history. Read full review

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User Reviews

DogeGamer2015

Nov 29, 2020

Una película que es muy buena; su historia es tensa, emocionante y muy épica.
¡TOTALMENTE RECOMENDADA!

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

LeZee

Oct 24, 2016

Some risk taken in romance were unimaginable.

First of all, I did not know it was a real event based film until the texts from the film's end. But even before that I liked it very much. The film was very edgy, I have not seen such film in a quite long time. It feels like a familiar theme,Some risk taken in romance were unimaginable.

First of all, I did not know it was a real event based film until the texts from the film's end. But even before that I liked it very much. The film was very edgy, I have not seen such film in a quite long time. It feels like a familiar theme, but that is only the theme, the story was marginally different. Emma Watson was amazing, maybe this her best performance I have seen so far in her career. Daniel Bruhl was not bad either and so other co-stars.

The locations, the atmosphere created for narrating the tale, all were amazing, just feels like a very real. The story of a young German couple in the 70s Chile, when the military coup takes place, the supporters of the overthrown president were arrested including these two. Now they are separated and one of them was sent to a secret detention camp. The other one decides to rescue him by risking her own life by joining the same organisation. That's the film to reveal how she plans and all other troubles during her undertaking.

Despite what this film reveals, very sad to read the end text. I have been looking for such kind of thriller for some time, so really I'm happy I saw this one. The pace was moderate, but the developments at the right time gives the edge. So from the entertainment perspective to revealing facts, this film well managed. From the director of 'John Rabe', another same intensity film, the majority of those who watch it would definitely like it. The thriller film fans must not miss it.

8/10… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

wookie

Feb 6, 2017

The only caveat for me would be Emma Watson, who I couldn't believe completely. But Michael Nyqvist is one of the best villains I've seen in ages, and the movie keeps a gripping pace from start to finish.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

JoeCool

Jul 19, 2020

Slow, uncomfortable, gripping and based on real events. Quite harsh at times once you know this, but definitely worth the watch if you can handle the reality of military dictatorship. Emma Watson is nice to watch on screen, she is however hard to believe in her role with the choices she makes.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

MlleChichi

Oct 9, 2016

Some slower parts, yes, but I think they were important to get the ''heavy'' feel of the film. It is slow, uncomfortable at times and harsh. But, as a whole, for me this was a success. Roller coaster of emotions during the second half. Also, it does a good job at showing the hidden darknessSome slower parts, yes, but I think they were important to get the ''heavy'' feel of the film. It is slow, uncomfortable at times and harsh. But, as a whole, for me this was a success. Roller coaster of emotions during the second half. Also, it does a good job at showing the hidden darkness of Chile, a country we do not hear often about (if you are not already interested in foreign politics).… Expand

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

bachelorpod

Oct 31, 2016

I'm not very familiar with the abuses of the Pinochet regime and appreciate that they may be better addressed elsewhere. But as an examination of the inner workings of crypto-fascist sect Colonia Dignidad, of torture and the escape of two young people, this thriller held me on the edge of myI'm not very familiar with the abuses of the Pinochet regime and appreciate that they may be better addressed elsewhere. But as an examination of the inner workings of crypto-fascist sect Colonia Dignidad, of torture and the escape of two young people, this thriller held me on the edge of my seat. I had to stop the video several times because I could not stand the suspense. Grim, relentless and utterly terrifying.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

Q8MarrongGlace

Jun 17, 2016

A kind of film you want to fast forward in some places , It started good then you'll feel bored if it wasn't based on a true story I would probably just stop watching , Since I like movies based on true stories I had to wait until the end to write a review. If you are a Watson fan its fineA kind of film you want to fast forward in some places , It started good then you'll feel bored if it wasn't based on a true story I would probably just stop watching , Since I like movies based on true stories I had to wait until the end to write a review. If you are a Watson fan its fine to watch as she did fine in her performance in this movie and I wish she'll do better in future choosing a good scripts that fits her more in order to improve her acting skills , If you're not a fan of hers nor a true story movie, I really don't recommend it so only because its a true story I'll rate it as a watchable and my watchable rates starts from 5… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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