Anthony Higgins in 1980s

1984

The Cold Room

I was shocked by this film. It's simplicity, candor and truly pain in every frame make this movie one of "must be seen"'s.

Based on novel by Jeffrey Caine, it is a story of a girl, named Carla (Amanda Pays), who goes on vacation with her father (George Segal) to East Berlin in 1972. They stay at a hotel, where thirty years earlier lived another girl. Minds of these two girls become mixed, Carla mixed with late Christa, and only endurance can open the truth about love and death of German girl and Jewish young man, who was saved from the Nazis in the hotel's cold room many years ago.

Anthony Higgins as Erich, a young "dissident", is very good in this part. By this time he has his style already. Warmed to Erich's role Higgins made all the scenes in one breath. His eyes sparkling, his hands strong, not one smile. It is a death behind the walls, you know?

I was surprised that his name appears only in open titles and no mention in the end ones.

Good article about the film is at Wikipedia, with full summary and long Nyman's soundtrack ads in the end:).

In 2008 was an odd DVD edition, and I can't recommend it to you as an example of quality, cause I can't see any difference with VHS.

Soundtrack is at Soundtracks page.

Promo photos are at "Movie promotional photos".