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Poster for Hanussen

Hanussen

Seen it?

1988 | 140 min | Science Fiction, History, Drama, Fantasy

Monday Morning Maybeearly rating

Why it’s a Monday Morning Maybe

With almost no lasting buzz and soft box office, this one could be a tough watch. Keep your phone handy.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for fans of cool, efficient anti-heroes and sci-fi fans. Lean and efficient, like its main character. If you loved Munich or Nuremberg, start here.
The mood
Thoughtful and character-driven.
The pace
Takes its time with its characters, at 2 hr 20 min.
What might put you off
  • It's in another language, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
  • Skip it if you like your stories firmly grounded in the real world.

A man's story parallels Hitler's rise. Austrian Klaus Schneider, wounded in World War I, recovers in the care of Dr. Emil Bettleheim. Bettleheim discovers that Schneider possesses powers of empathy and of clairvoyance, such that could aid suicidal patients. After the war, with one friend as his manager and another as his lover, Schneider changes his name to Eric Jan Hanussen and goes to Berlin, as a hypnotist and clairvoyant performing in halls and theaters. He always speaks the truth, which brings him to the attention of powerful Nazis. He predicts their rise (good propaganda for them) and their violence (not so good). He's in pain and at risk. What is Hanussen's future?

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsNot counted

    Not enough reviews on record yet

  • AudiencesNot counted

    Not measured yet: not enough ratings

  • AwardsBelow par

    Nominated for 1 Oscar.

  • Box office & staying powerBelow par

    $83K worldwide; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactWeak

    About 7K people sought it out in the past year

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Cast & crew

Directed by István Szabó

  • Klaus Maria BrandauerKlaus Schneider / Eric Jan Hanussen
  • Erland JosephsonDr. Bettelheim
  • Ildikó BánságiSister Betty
  • Walter SchmidingerPropaganda Chief
  • Károly EperjesTibor Nowotny
  • Grażyna SzapołowskaValery de la Meer
  • Colette Pilz-WarrenDagma
  • Adrianna BiedrzyńskaWally
  • György CserhalmiCount Trantow-Waldbach
  • Michał BajorBecker