The Universal Theory

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For a hypothetical theory that would explain all the physical laws and properties of the universe, see Theory of everything.
The Universal Theory
Theatrical release poster
GermanDie Theorie von Allem
Directed byTimm Kröger
Written by
  • Timm Kröger
  • Roderick Warich
Produced by
  • Heino Deckert
  • Viktoria Stolpe
  • Timm Kröger
  • Tina Börner
  • Lixi Frank
  • David Bohun
  • Sarah Born
  • Rajko Jazbec
  • Dario Schoch
Starring
CinematographyRoland Stuprich[1]
Edited byJann Anderegg[1]
Music byDiego Ramos Rodríguez[1]
Production
companies
Distributed byNeue Visionen
Release dates
  • 3 September 2023 (2023-09-03) (Venice)
  • 26 October 2023 (2023-10-26) (Germany)
Running time
118 minutes[1]
Countries
  • Germany
  • Austria
  • Switzerland
Languages
Box office$498,588[2]

The Universal Theory (German: Die Theorie von Allem, lit. 'The Theory of Everything') is a 2023 mystery thriller film directed by Timm Kröger,[3][4] from a screenplay written by Kröger with Roderick Warich.[5]

The film was selected to compete for the Golden Lion at the 80th Venice International Film Festival, where it premiered on 3 September 2023.

Plot[edit]

In 1962, physicist Johannes travels with his doctoral supervisor to a scientific congress in the Swiss Alps. It is there that he meets Karin, a jazz pianist, who is suspiciously knowledgeable about Johannes. A series of mysterious deaths occur at the mountainous site, and the two venture to uncover the secrets hidden below. The story includes an Iranian guest, a strange cloud formation in the sky and quantum mechanics.

Cast[edit]

  • Jan Bülow as Johannes Leinert
  • Olivia Ross as Karin Hönig
  • Hanns Zischler as Dr. Julius Strathen
  • Gottfried Breitfuss as Professor Blumberg
  • David Bennent as Kommissar Arnold
  • Philippe Graber as Kommissar Amrein
  • Ladina Carla von Frisching as Susi (adult)
  • Imogen Kogge as Anna Leinert
  • Emanuel Waldburg-Zeil as Johnny
  • Vivienne Bayley as Susi (child)
  • Dirk Böhling as Moderator
  • Paul Wolff-Plottegg as Dr. Martin Koch
  • Peter Hottinger as Empfangschef
  • Dana Herfurth as Minna
  • Joey Zimmermann as Polizeibeamter
  • Eva Maria Jost as Anna Leinert Jung
  • Jonathan Wirtz as Johannes (child)

Production[edit]

The Universal Theory was produced by Germany's Ma.ja.de. Fiction and The Barricades, in co-production with Austria's Panama Film and Switzerland's Catpics AG.[6] Principal photography began in January 2022 at the ski resort of St. Jakob in Defereggen, Austria. The film was shot in black-and-white using CinemaScope.[5] Filming was projected to wrap at the end of February.[6]

Release[edit]

The Universal Theory was selected to compete for the Golden Lion at the 80th Venice International Film Festival,[7] where it had its world premiere on 3 September 2023.[1] International sales are handled by Paris-based company Charades.[8] The film was theatrically released in Germany on 26 October 2023 by Neue Visionen.[9]

Reception[edit]

Critical response[edit]

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 79% based on 14 reviews, with an average rating of 6.8/10.[10] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 63 out of 100, based on 5 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[11]

Accolades[edit]

Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Chicago International Film Festival 22 October 2023 Gold Hugo The Universal Theory Nominated [12]
Utopiales 4 November 2023 Grand prix du jury des Utopiales Won [13]
Venice Film Festival 9 September 2023 Golden Lion Timm Kröger Nominated [14]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Die Theorie von allem". La Biennale di Venezia. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  2. ^ "The Universal Theory (2023)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  3. ^ Ritman, Alex (5 October 2023). "Oscilloscope Acquires Venice Competition Entry 'The Universal Theory' for U.S. (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  4. ^ Kiang, Jessica (3 September 2023). "'The Universal Theory' Review: A Sumptuous Homage to Hitchcock Packaged as a Metaphysical Noir". Variety. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  5. ^ a b Barraclough, Leo (21 January 2022). "First Look: Jan Bülow, Olivia Ross Star in Mystery Thriller 'The Theory of Everything' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  6. ^ a b Vena, Teresa (25 January 2022). "Shooting for the historical thriller The Theory of Everything starts in Austria". Cineuropa. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  7. ^ Tartaglione, Nancy (25 July 2023). "Venice Film Festival Lineup: Mann, Lanthimos, Fincher, DuVernay, Cooper, Besson, Coppola, Hamaguchi In Competition; Polanski, Allen, Anderson, Linklater Out Of Competition – Full List". Deadline. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  8. ^ Leffler, Rebecca (25 July 2023). "Charades, Anonymous Content team on genre-bending Venice Competition title 'The Theory of Everything' (exclusive)". Screen International. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  9. ^ "Die Theorie von Allem" (in German). Neue Visionen. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  10. ^ "The Theory of Everything". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  11. ^ "The Universal Theory". Metacritic. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  12. ^ Kay, Jeremy (14 September 2023). "'Fallen Leaves', 'About Dry Grasses', 'La Chimera' among Chicago fest international line-up (exclusive)". Screendaily. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  13. ^ "Palmarès 2023". Les Utopiales. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
  14. ^ "Venezia 80 Competition". La Biennale di Venezia. Retrieved 12 August 2023.

External links[edit]

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