Woyzeck
Seen it?1979 | 82 min | Drama
Sunday Safe BetWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
It earned strong reviews (86% on Rotten Tomatoes). A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who loves a strong drama. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Thoughtful and character-driven.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 22 min.
- What might put you off
- It's in German, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
- Made in 1979: an older pace and style.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
Having fathered an illegitimate child with his lover, Marie, feckless soldier Franz Woyzeck takes odd jobs around his small town to provide some extra money for them. One job is volunteering for experiments conducted by a local doctor, who puts Woyzeck on a diet of peas. This serves to drive him close to madness, and the discovery that Marie is involved in an affair with the local drum major exacerbates the situation. Pushed too far, Woyzeck resorts to violence.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
86% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesSolid
6.6 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Reach & staying powerSolid
Streaming release that reached a small audience so far; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 59K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
More like this
The Railway Man
Weeknight WatchAnother revenge drama, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
Hamlet Sunday Safe BetAnother revenge drama, and a safe bet for a quiet night.
Rebel Without a Cause
Friday Night FlickAnother critically acclaimed drama.
The Bourne Supremacy
Saturday SpecialAnother drama, and a Saturday Special.
The Book Thief Sunday Safe BetAnother drama, and a safe bet for a quiet night.
Want more like this, picked just for you? Get my picks
Cast & crew
Directed by Werner Herzog
- Klaus KinskiFriedrich Johann Franz Woyzeck
- Eva MattesMarie
- Wolfgang ReichmannCaptain
- Willy SemmelroggeDoctor
- Josef BierbichlerDrum Major
- Paul BurianAndres
- Volker PrechtelHandwerksbursche
- Dieter AugustinMarktschreier
- Irm HermannMargret
- Wolfgang BächlerJew