A Trick of the Light
Die Gebrüder Skladanowsky
Synopsis
A rare gem of cinematic storytelling that weaves docudrama, fictional reenactment, and experimental photography into a powerful, reflective work on the early days of German cinema. The film tells the story of the Skladanowsky Brothers, the German-born duo responsible for inventing the "bioskop", an early version of the film projector.
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →
Udo Kier
Max Skladanowsky
Otto Kuhnle
Emil Skladanowsky
Christoph Merg
Eugen Skladanowsky / Jongleur (Der Jongleur)
Nadine Büttner
Gertrud Skladanowsky
Lucie Hürtgen-Skladanowsky
Herself
Bodo Werner Lang
Postbote
Rüdiger Vogler
Hochradfahrer
Alfred Sczczot
Spion
Wim Wenders
Regisseur / Milchmann
Jürgen Jürges
Self
Germán Kral
Kamera-Assistent
Barbara Rohm
Tonfrau
Florian Gallenberger
Ton-Assistent
Marianna Kawka
Josephine Skladanowky
Hans Moser
Direktor Baron
Thomas Rosié
Direktor Dorn
Brygida Ochaim
Mademoiselle Ancion / Tänzerin (Serpentintanz)
Manfred Wopalka
Auguste Lumière
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Wim Wenders
- Screenplay & Story
- Sebastian Andrae, Alina Teodorescu, Wim Wenders, Veit Helmer, Germán Kral, Henrick Heckmann, Barbara Rohm, Florian Gallenberger
- Original Score
- Laurent Petitgand
- Original Title
- Die Gebrüder Skladanowsky
- Country of Origin
- Germany
- Spoken Languages
- German
- Runtime
- 1h 19m
- Production Studios
- Wim Wenders Stiftung, Bundesministerium des Inneren (BMI), Wim Wenders Productions, BR, Hochschule für Fernsehen und Film München, Veit Helmer-Filmproduktion
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Wim Wenders
Sebastian Andrae, Alina Teodorescu, Wim Wenders, Veit Helmer, Germán Kral, Henrick Heckmann, Barbara Rohm, Florian Gallenberger
Laurent Petitgand
Jürgen Jürges
Peter Przygodda
Wim Wenders, Veit Helmer, Wolfgang Längsfeld
Department Leadership Roster
Wim Wenders
Director
Sebastian Andrae
Writer
Alina Teodorescu
Writer
Wim Wenders
Writer
Veit Helmer
Writer
Germán Kral
Writer
Henrick Heckmann
Writer
Barbara Rohm
Writer
Wim Wenders
Producer
Laurent Petitgand
Original Music Composer
Veit Helmer
Producer
Jürgen Jürges
Director of Photography
Peter Przygodda
Editor
Wolfgang Längsfeld
Producer
Florian Gallenberger
Writer
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for A Trick of the Light.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring A Trick of the Light.
MovieLens[30K:40K]
Wanted films 2
Kodi Collection
Complete Collection of Movies
Similar Titles to A Trick of the Light
Movies sharing stylistic DNA, tone, and thematic storytelling
4.5
8.0
5.0
10.0
5.3
7.9
6.9
7.2
7.4
8.0
5.9![](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 2 3"%3E%3Crect width="2" height="3" fill="%23161922"/%3E%3C/svg%3E)
7.7Hitchcock, Selznick and the End of Hollywood
6.0
7.5
7.7
6.8
More Like A Trick of the Light
Recommended titles matching themes, cast, and genres.
Frequently Asked Questions About A Trick of the Light
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is A Trick of the Light about?
A rare gem of cinematic storytelling that weaves docudrama, fictional reenactment, and experimental photography into a powerful, reflective work on the early days of German cinema. The film tells the story of the Skladanowsky Brothers, the German-born duo responsible for inventing the "bioskop", an early version of the film projector.
Who directed A Trick of the Light?
A Trick of the Light was directed by Wim Wenders.
Who stars in A Trick of the Light?
The principal cast of A Trick of the Light includes Udo Kier, Otto Kuhnle, Christoph Merg, Nadine Büttner, Lucie Hürtgen-Skladanowsky.
When was A Trick of the Light released and how long is it?
A Trick of the Light was released in 1995 with a total runtime of 1h 19m.
Who composed the musical score for A Trick of the Light?
The original motion picture soundtrack for A Trick of the Light was composed by Laurent Petitgand.