The Nine Lives of Tomas Katz (2000)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Ben Hopkins

Writers:

Thomas Browne (writer)
Rob Cheek (story)

Release Date:

11 January 2001 (Germany)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Fantasy | Mystery

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Surrealism | Apocalypse | Satire | Absurdism | Futuristic

Awards:

3 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Thomas Fisher	...	No / Tomas Katz
Ian McNeice	...	The Inspector
Tony Maudsley	...	Taxi driver
William Keen	...	Cuthbert (as Will Keen)
Andrew Melville	...	Minister of fish
Toby Jones	...	Civil servant
Asif Kapadia	...	Gwupigrubynudny-landians
Kris Krishnamma	...	Gwupigrubynudny-landians
Jamille Jinnah	...	Gwupigrubynudny-landians
Sophie Bevan	...	Journalist
Kiki Kendrick	...	Eileen
Trevor Thomas	...	Schlauch
Amelia Curtis	...	Yvonne
Tilly Blackwood	...	Underworld secretary
David de Keyser	...	Exhumed rabbi

Also Known As:

Die neun Leben des Tomas Katz (Germany)

Runtime:

87 min

Country:

UK | Germany

Language:

English

Colour:

Black and White | Colour (Metrocolor)

Certification:

UK:15

Filming Locations:

Alexandra Palace, Alexandra Palace Way, Muswell Hill, London, England, UK

Company:

G2 Films

Trivia:

The school football match scene was filmed in an actual school in Walthamstow, London, England. Child extras were rounded up from nearby theatre groups. Two children were picked from each, and it was considered a great honor to be allowed to take part in filming.

Quotes:

[After establishing that the children in general are at fault for the state of the nation]
Ivul Gurk: Well, well, we could, ah, talk forever - is there a solution?
Tomas Katz: Yes! I have it here. It's a tuning fork. I acquired it through the Sunday Times recent innovation feature.
Ivul Gurk: Tuning Fork of Annihilation: Broadcast a melodious hum of this durable stainless steel tuning fork across the airwaves and cause the destruction of all domestic televisions and the death of all children who hear it. Wow, what will they think of, next?

Movie Connections:

References Week End (1967)

Soundtrack:

Orovela

Apocalyptic comedy/art-house

This black and white film was shot on a low budget in London. It is quite funny, but occasionally in fact often very odd. I think the oddness may have been because the production was German and they have a different sense of humour over there or alternatively it may have been because the director was just having a laugh with his Art School mates.

Very funny in places though. I enjoyed it.

Apparently I have to write more so I will also say that the film uses old testament themes to play out an apocalypse in contemporary London. Much of this is quite interesting however according to my mum "the film could have done with better editing". I would say this is accurate