15 Minutes

Colour, 35mm
USA, 2001, 120 min
Section: Horizons

Synopsis

Praguer Emil and his Russian friend Oleg fly to New York to find some money that belongs to them: a former mate took off with it to the States. After they find him he claims that he’s already spent it and suggests that they look for work. The absurdity and recklessness of this suggestion enrages the unstable and aggressive Emil so much that he kills the bloke and his wife. By mistake, Oleg films the entire murder on a videocamera they’ve recently stolen. He and Emil soon realise that Věra, the victims’ roommate, saw the murder. They want to destroy all evidence and decide to burn the flat. After this they’ve got Detective Eddie Flemming on their backs and arson investigator Jordy Warsaw. While watching a television programme about an exonerated murderer, Emil gets a great idea how they can get some money out of America – the land of ‘incredible possibilities.’ Undoubtedly, filming the murder of media favourite Detective Eddie would be a great titbit for a television show. . . .

About the director

John Herzfeld (New Jersey, USA) studied at universities in Memphis and Miami. Since 1972 he has been working as an actor, screenwriter and director for television, and has shot the TV movies Two of a Kind (1983), Daddy (1987), Das Rattennest (1988), The Ryan White Story (1989), The Preppie Murder (1989), Tales from the Crypt (1989), The Fifth Corner (1992), Casualties of Love: The Long Island Lolita Story (1993) and Remember (1993). Herzfeld’s first feature film was 2 Days in the Valley (1996). 15 Minutes is his latest film.