Victoria (2015)

Victoria (2015) is a German one-take crime thriller directed by Sebastian Schipper that stunned audiences with its real-time storytelling and technical audacity. Filmed in a single continuous shot over 2 hours and 18 minutes, the movie is not only a gripping tale of impulsive decisions and escalating stakes but also a masterclass in immersive filmmaking.

Detailed Summary

A Quiet Beginning: Victoria Meets Sonne

The film starts in a Berlin nightclub around 4:30 AM. Victoria (Laia Costa), a young Spanish woman new to Berlin, is dancing alone. She doesn’t speak German and seems disconnected from those around her. Outside the club, she meets four men: Sonne, Boxer, Blinker, and Fuß, who are loud, tipsy, and seemingly harmless.

Sonne (Frederick Lau) is charming and becomes the group’s de facto leader. There’s instant chemistry between him and Victoria, and she decides to join them on a drunken tour of Berlin. They climb rooftops, break into a convenience store for beer, and wander the city like carefree youth.

Trouble Brews: A Favor for a Friend

As the sun begins to rise, the tone shifts. Boxer, recently out of prison, reveals that he owes a dangerous favor to someone who helped him inside. The group was supposed to commit a robbery that morning—but Fuß is too drunk to function.

Sonne begs Victoria to help. Desperate to be accepted and still riding the high of the night’s spontaneity, she agrees to drive the getaway car. From this moment, the movie shifts from a light-hearted urban adventure to a suspenseful, nerve-wracking thriller.

The Bank Robbery

The group enters a bank, and Victoria waits in the car. Tension mounts. Minutes later, they come running out—bags full of money, blood on their faces. The robbery goes awry when they accidentally kill a guard. They scramble to regroup, but the city is waking up, and their faces are caught on security cameras.

Victoria, now an accomplice to murder and theft, is fully entangled.

The Tragic Unraveling

They attempt to hide in a hotel. Boxer’s wounds are fatal, and he dies. Soon, the police catch up. A shootout ensues. One by one, the group members are killed until only Sonne and Victoria remain. Sonne is fatally shot while trying to escape with Victoria. In a final, haunting moment, Victoria, bloodied and in shock, walks away alone—still carrying one of the bags of money.

Movie Ending

The ending is bleak, raw, and unresolved. Victoria walks away into the Berlin morning with no clear plan, visibly traumatized. The fact that she still has the money poses ambiguous questions—did she survive, or did she lose part of herself in the process?

There is no post-credits scene in Victoria. The film ends definitively with Victoria disappearing into the city.

Type of Movie

Victoria is a real-time crime thriller and drama with strong psychological elements. It’s also a technical achievement in cinema due to its single-shot production.

Cast

• Laia Costa as Victoria
• Frederick Lau as Sonne
• Franz Rogowski as Boxer
• Burak Yiğit as Blinker
• Max Mauff as Fuß

Film Music and Composer

The music for Victoria was composed by Nils Frahm, known for his ambient, minimalist style. The score subtly reinforces the emotional intensity and tension throughout the film, enhancing its immersive experience.

Filming Locations

Shot entirely on location in Berlin’s Kreuzberg and Mitte districts, the movie captures a raw, nocturnal view of the city. The locations were chosen for their accessibility during a single continuous take. The setting plays a critical role in grounding the film’s realism—everything from nightclubs to rooftops to quiet streets are part of Berlin’s everyday backdrop.

Awards and Nominations

Victoria received widespread acclaim, particularly for its direction and lead performance.

• 6 German Film Awards, including Best Film, Best Director (Sebastian Schipper), and Best Actress (Laia Costa)
• Silver Bear for Outstanding Artistic Contribution (Cinematography) at the Berlin International Film Festival
• European Film Award nomination for Laia Costa

Behind the Scenes Insights

• The entire movie was filmed in a single take with no cuts over 2 hours and 18 minutes.
• It was shot three times across three nights. The third take is the one used in the final cut.
• The script was only twelve pages long—most dialogue was improvised.
• Laia Costa had to learn piano and perform a classical piece live for one scene.
• The crew rehearsed for months to coordinate lighting, camera movements, and blocking.

Inspirations and References

While not based on a book, Victoria draws thematic inspiration from films like “Before Sunrise“ and the French New Wave, where spontaneity and realism are emphasized. The idea of a single-take film also nods to Russian Ark (2002), though Victoria integrates this style with intense action and emotional stakes.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

There are no known alternate endings or deleted scenes. Given the one-take nature of the film, the narrative was carefully choreographed, and deviations weren’t feasible.

Book Adaptations and Differences

Victoria is not based on a book, but its naturalistic storytelling and character-driven plot make it feel like a literary drama. The improvisational dialogue gives it a deeply authentic tone.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

• Victoria playing piano alone in the café—a quiet moment that hints at her internal world.
• The rooftop hangout with the boys—carefree and tender before everything unravels.
• The bank robbery—a chaotic, heart-pounding sequence captured in real-time.
• The shootout at the hotel—raw and emotional.
• The final shot of Victoria walking away—unforgettable in its ambiguity.

Iconic Quotes

• Sonne: “You’re not from here, right?”
• Victoria: “No. But maybe I want to be.”
• Boxer: “We all owe something. Some more than others.”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

• The film’s real-time duration matches the events depicted in the story almost exactly.
• The piano piece Victoria plays is “Mephisto Waltz” by Liszt, symbolizing the Faustian pact she unwittingly enters.
• Several location transitions are timed perfectly with sunrise, emphasizing time slipping away.

Trivia

• The cameraman, Sturla Brandth Grøvlen, is the real MVP—he held the camera non-stop for over two hours.
• The film was originally going to be edited normally, but after a test run, Schipper decided the one-take approach was more powerful.
• Laia Costa was relatively unknown before this role and became an international breakout star afterward.

Why Watch?

Victoria is a visceral, hypnotic, and innovative film experience. If you’re tired of conventional storytelling and crave something immersive, raw, and human, this is a must-watch. It’s not just a movie—it’s an experience unfolding in real time.

Director’s Other Movies

• Absolute Giganten (1999)
• Sometime in August (2009)
• Roads (2019)

Recommended Films for Fans

• Before Sunrise (1995)
• Good Time (2017)
• Run Lola Run (1998)
• Birdman (2014)
• Russian Ark (2002)
• Timecode (2000)