Has anyone seen the "Brother of Sleep"?

Mark7

The Living Force
FOTCM Member
This is an oldie, (but perhaps a goodie), I rented a copy of the German Film - Brother of Sleep, (Schlafes Bruder), in the late 90's. It is one of the few films I would like to see twice, but it is hard to find here in the states and expensive to buy on Amazon. The movie is a visual feast at times, with breathtakingly beautiful scenes contrasted by depictions of the stark and boring reality of 19th century Austrian village life. It is a story of musical genius and unrequited love:

IMBC.com said:
In the beginning of the 19th century, Johannes Elias Alder is born in a small village in the Austrian mountains. While growing up he is considered strange by the other villagers and discovers his love to music, especially to playing the organ at the local church. After experiencing an "acoustic wonder", his eye color changes and he can hear even the most subtle sounds. Elias falls in platonic love with Elsbeth, the sister of Peter, a neighbor's son, who has loving feelings towards Elias ever since. After Elsbeth marries someone else, Elias (aged 22) decides to end his life by not sleeping anymore.

I was wondering if any other forum members have seen the movie. The novel the movie is based on - "Schlafes Bruder" by Robert Schnieder, sounds interesting and I may try reading it between my current Gurdjieff readings:

Library Journal said:
Johann Elias Alder, the illegitimate son of the parish priest and a peasant woman in the mountains of western Austria in the early 19th century, was perhaps the greatest musical genius of all time. This absorbing novel tells of the mystical experiences that lead to his great gift, his obsessive love for his cousin, and his self-willed death from lack of sleep. At least as interesting as the protagonist's fate are the colorful tales of the villagers, whom the narrator describes as being ruled by ignorance and superstition while practicing adultery, incest, and brutal acts of cruelty as a matter of routine, and the meticulous descriptions of the peculiarities of climate and geography that shaped their lives. Ultimately, the novel is a rumination on the nature of love and, perhaps, an exploration of the roots that lead to the twisted humanity of Nazi Germany. Novelist/playwright Schneider won the Robert Musil Prize of the City of Vienna for this work. Recommended for general fiction as well as German literature collections.

The movie is not without it's flaws, something of a soap-opera even, but it's a movie that I have had difficulty forgetting.

A couple of scenes: _http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfeEQ9mneg4

Edit: I just found the whole film on Youtube, :P (no English subtitles):

_http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9yv0PAL884&feature=fvwp&NR=1
 
Hi Mark,

I am glad you like movie. Actually I was looking for an English version, or at least one with subtitles.
I origin from the region where it was done and remember the excitement and discussions during the period of time. Do you have any questions about it? I am German native speaker...
Regards.
 
Hi derrick,

Welcome to our forum. :)

We recommend all new members to post an introduction in the Newbies section telling us a bit about themselves, how they found the cass material, and how much of the work here they have read.

You can have a look through that board to see how others have done it.
 
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