Requiem
A devout young German student’s struggle with epilepsy becomes a devastating collision between family authority, medical care, and belief in demonic possession.
Overview
A gripping exploration of faith and mental health unfolds in the German countryside as a young woman grapples with her identity and beliefs.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- harrowing
- austere
- intimate
- serious movie night
- arthouse viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly regard this as a harrowing, naturalistic drama elevated by Sandra Hüller’s intense central performance.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Michaela’s seizures, medication refusal, religious conviction, and competing pastoral responses are presented in a restrained realist style.
Michaela is caught between a priest advocating exorcism and another priest urging psychological treatment, while her epilepsy worsens.
Michaela leaves her German countryside home for university despite her mother’s opposition and struggles to define her own beliefs.
The German countryside, university life, family home, and church settings frame Michaela’s crisis without sensational horror stylization.
Films like Requiem, and why
The Exorcism of Emily Rose
naturalistic psychological drama about religious belief, institutional pressure, and a young woman’s deteriorating health
The Magdalene Sisters
harrowing character-centered drama about faith, mental illness, and social judgment
The White Ribbon
intense European coming-of-age drama shaped by family conflict, Catholicism, and psychological distress
The Crucible
grounded historical drama about a young woman confronting oppressive religious and social forces
Movie Details
- Director
- Hans-Christian Schmid
- Release Date
- 2006-03-02
- Runtime
- 92 min
- Rating
- 6.6 / 10 (127)
Cast
- Sandra Hüller
- Burghart Klaußner
- Imogen Kogge
- Anna Blomeier
- Nicholas Reinke
- Walter Schmidinger
- Johann Adam Oest
- Eva Löbau
- Friederike Adolph
- Jens Harzer
Common questions
- What is Requiem about?
- A devout young German student’s struggle with epilepsy becomes a devastating collision between family authority, medical care, and belief in demonic possession.
- What is Requiem like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Requiem as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Requiem violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Requiem as mild.
- What did critics think of Requiem?
- Critics broadly regard this as a harrowing, naturalistic drama elevated by Sandra Hüller’s intense central performance.
- Which films are like Requiem?
- Films with a similar feel include The Exorcism of Emily Rose, The Magdalene Sisters, The White Ribbon, and The Crucible.
- How long is Requiem?
- Requiem runs 92 minutes.
