New Zealand sales outfit Black Mandala has acquired worldwide rights to “Traumnovelle,” the German-produced English-language adaptation of Arthur Schnitzler’s 1926 novella that previously inspired Stanley Kubrick’s “Eyes Wide Shut.”
The neo-noir thriller, helmed by director Florian Frerichs (“The Last Supper”), marks one of Black Mandala’s biggest acquisitions to date. The film stars Nikolai Kinski, son of legendary German actor Klaus Kinski, and Laurine Price in the lead roles, with a supporting cast including Detlev Buck, Nora Islei, Bruno Eyron and Sharon Kovacs.
The film follows Jakob, a doctor, husband and intellectual in Berlin whose life changes when he embarks on a night-time journey through the city. After encounters in Berlin’s erotic underground and a mysterious masked opera ball, he must confront questions about love and longing in a world of illusion and twilight.
Produced by Warnuts Entertainment in cooperation with Thomas Kretschmar Film, Gretchen Film, K-Motion and Studio Babelsberg, the film has launched in German theaters on 60 screens, with a reported budget over €1 million ($1.03 million). All German rights excluding theatrical, as well as worldwide rights, remain available as Black Mandala positions the film as one of its leading titles for the upcoming European Film Market (EFM) in Berlin.
“‘Traumnovelle’ is a genre mix of comedy, eroticism, horror and thriller. The sexually charged neo-noir thriller captivates the audience with a world full of dreams and fantasies, but also encourages critical reflection on moral abysses,” says Frerichs.
“We want the audience to be enriched by the experience. Our film should entertain them visually, intellectually and dramatically. We want them to leave with the feeling of being part of something very special,” Frerichs adds.
Black Mandala recently signed a deal with Australia’s Black Forest Films for genre titles “Haunted & Devoted,” “Grand Finale: A New York Odyssey,” “Bubblegum” and an untitled survival horror project.
In recent months, Black Mandala has picked up rights to survival horror film “Play Dead” and creature feature “Lake Jesup: Bonecrusher’s Revenge.”
