Unleashing "Exterritorial": The Explosive German Netflix Hit
International Success - Germany's Top-Grossing Netflix Movie Achieves Global Acclaim - "German Netflix Film with Highest Success" - a suitable rephrasing of the title "Exterritorial".
Shake it up a little!
After just a single month of streaming, the adrenaline-fueled German action film "Exterritorial", set in Frankfurt am Main, has skyrocketed to global fame, claiming the crown of the most successful Netflix film in Germany.
This heart-pounding thriller, headlined by Jeanne Goursaud, took under two weeks to outsell both the Oscar-winning anti-war film "All Quiet on the Western Front" (2022) by Edward Berger and the action horror film "Blood Red Sky" (2021) by Peter Thorwarth.
The creative brainchild of director Christian Zübert currently sits at number 16 on Netflix's all-time list of films, with a staggering 76.3 million views; it ranks a formidable 6th on the list of non-English Netflix films, with views still on the rise.
Shot mainly in Vienna, the film presents a fictitious building complex in Frankfurt where the action unfolds. The actual complex doesn't exist within the city.
What's "Exterritorial" About?
"When her son inexplicably vanishes inside a US consulate, former soldier Sara, grounded by her haunting past in the Afghan war, embarks on a brutal quest to find him, uncovering a sinister conspiracy along the way," Netflix reveals.
We follow ex-Bundeswehr soldier Sara Wulf (Goursaud), seeking a fresh start in America with her six-year-old son Josh (Rickson Guy da Silva). As they apply for a work permit at the American consulate in Frankfurt, tragedy strikes - Josh disappears without a trace. No one claims to have seen him, and he's nowhere to be found on the consulate's surveillance footage. Sara is then asked to leave. Fearing that the German authorities lack jurisdiction in the US consulate (an extraterritorial territory), she decides to stick around, risking everything to find her son, even if he might not even be real... But can consulate chief Eric Kynch (Dougray Scott) be trusted?
In a Nutshell
A gutsy German mom takes down some nasty Yanks.
How Was it Born?
The concept for "Exterritorial" sprouted from a personal experience that director Christian Zübert had in Frankfurt during 2019, while filming the second season of the ZDF series "Bad Banks".zübert, his wife, and their children sought biometric passports just two days before a trip to the United States. Their prolonged stay at the US consulate, where their children were left in a makeshift play area, left the director wondering about the potential consequences if the Americans decided to call their bluff and deny them entry. This vivid memory sparked the idea for the movie.
About the Director and Screenwriter Christian Zübert
Christian Zübert, acclaimed for projects like "Lammbock - Everything in Hand", "Arthurs Law", "Mädchen, Mädchen" (2001), "Neue Vahr Süd" (2010), "Dampfnudelblues" (2013), and "Der Fall Collini" (2019), has also directed episodes for the ZDF series "KDD - Kriminaldauerdienst". He is the mastermind behind the critically-acclaimed "Tatort" episode "Tatort: Never Again to Be Free" (2010), which won a Grimme Prize and is considered one of the top "Tatort" crime dramas by many. Influenced by 70s action movies such as works by William Friedkin and John Frankenheimer, Zübert was determined to craft an incredibly physical filmic experience for the audience.
Meet the film's fierce leading lady, Jeanne Goursaud
Versatile French-German actress Jeanne Goursaud (29) has been gracing screens since her early years. She gained widespread recognition for her earthy portrayal of Thusnelda in Netflix's "Barbaren" (2 seasons since 2020). In "Exterritorial", she delivers an outstanding performance as a devoted mother grappling with psychological trauma, all while battling adversaries head-on.
This could be the secret behind the film's success
Zübert attributes the film's popularity to the audience's ability to relate with Sara, the movie's protagonist, who carries a military background and is, above all, a normal woman determined to protect her loved ones - unlike the stereotypical characters often found in action movies.
Critical Reviews for "Exterritorial"
"Exterritorial" has garnered a mix of reviews, with some highlights and lowlights worth noting:
- Action and Suspense: Critics praise the film for its intense action sequences and suspenseful pacing, specifically Goursaud's performance as Sara for its visceral and adrenaline-fueled stunts.
- Emotional Depth and Originality: Despite its gritty and frenetic action, the film is criticized for lacking emotional depth and originality in its storytelling, failing to deliver a more nuanced narrative or explore complex themes beyond the surface level.
- Portrayal of Mental Health: The movie attempts to delve into mental health issues such as Sara's PTSD, but this aspect is overshadowed by the emphasis on action.
- Comparison to Other Action Films: One reviewer likens "Exterritorial" to a Taco Bell experience—easy to consume but not wholly satisfying, drawing parallels with other action thrillers in terms of its inability to stand out.
Overall, "Exterritorial" is lauded for its high-octane action sequences but criticized for failing to provide a more layered narrative or emotional resolution.
- The success of the action film "Exterritorial" on Netflix, directed by Christian Zübert, has intrigued audiences across the US and Europe, ranking high on the streaming service's entertainment list.
- Despite a few mixed reviews, the movie has attracted recognition for its captivating action sequences and the portrayal of Jeanne Goursaud as a strong-willed mother fighting for her child, reminiscent of 70s action films.
