The Robber (***)

An aloof drama about an aloof character. Though adapted from a novel by Martin Prinz, the main character is based on real-life bank robber and marathoner Johann Kastenberger, called Rettenberger in the film. Rettenberger/Kastenberger (Andreas Lust) uses his running skills (and a mask) to evade the police, and so there are a number of chase sequences. But director Benjamin Heisenberger takes such a clinical approach to his subject that it’s hard to call this a thriller. Whether or not the real Kastenberger was like this I don’t know, but the character here comes off as nearly emotionless, and it’s as if the robberies are done more for the jolt of adrenalin than the money, which he doesn’t use. As such, this is something like a psychological drama about someone whose psychology is obscure. The girlfriend character is also difficult to understand; the source of her devotion is uncertain.

IMDB link

viewed 6/7/11 at Ritz Bourse and reviewed 6/7 and 6/8/11