Starting today, the film ‘Martin Reads the Quran‘ (German original title “Martin liest den Koran“) by Jurijs Saule is available digitally and can now also be pre-ordered on DVD. The film, in which Ulrich Tukur plays one of the leading roles, addresses key issues of our time – identity, radicalisation and cultural tensions. With his impressive portrayal of an Islamic scholar who engages in a profound dialogue about faith and self-image, Ulrich Tukur lends the work a special intensity and thoughtful depth.
Ulrich Tukur plays Professor Dr Neuweiser, a renowned Islamic scholar who assists 35-year-old Martin Harirat (Zejhun Demirov) in his search for guidance and truth. Martin, a family man with Iranian roots, immerses himself in the study of the Koran and finds himself in a deep inner conflict that shakes his previous certainties. The intense encounters between him and the professor give rise to a multi-layered conversation about faith, culture and identity – without easy answers, but with all the more humanity and intellectual depth. Ulrich Tukur, internationally known from films such as ‘The Lives of Others’ and ‘John Rabe’, is convincing in this role with his characteristic blend of analytical acuity and empathetic presence.
Ulrich Tukur as a powerful dialogue partner
Ulrich Tukur is one of Germany’s most respected actors, known for his ability to bring complex and multi-layered characters to life with impressive precision. In ‘Martin Reads the Quran’, he lends Professor Neuweiser an exceptionally finely balanced presence that oscillates between intellectual distance and human closeness. The film addresses social tensions and the need for dialogue and mutual understanding – relying heavily on Tukur’s powerful performance. His character, the professor, is confronted with questions that challenge his own convictions, opening up an emotionally and intellectually intense space in which the audience directly experiences the inner tension and depth of these encounters.
A film that tackles current issues
‘Martin Reads the Koran’ was directed by Latvian filmmaker Jurijs Saule. The screenplay, which Jurijs Saule co-wrote with Michail Lurje and which won the German Screenplay Award in 2022, avoids simplistic explanations and instead invites viewers to reflect deeply on integration, religion and the value of dialogue. The dialogues between Martin and Professor Neuweiser offer impressive insights into cultural tensions and the challenges faced by people in a multicultural society.
Features & technical data
DVD | Picture format: 14:9 | Running time: approx. 102 mins | Sound format: German DD 5.1, 2.0 | Subtitles: English, French, German, German (SDH), Russian, Spanish | Extras: Interviews, trailer, behind the scenes, picture gallery with script and storyboards | Reversible cover without FSK | FSK 16
Press reviews
‘Young German cinema can be this courageous and captivating.’ (kinokino – BR Fernsehen)
‘This film is absolutely worth seeing.’ (Kulturnews)
‘Martin Reads the Koran’ is an uncompromising film that goes where it hurts.” (Jüdische Allgemeine)
‘Throughout the film, Martin himself is a great mystery that only unfolds in all its emotional depth at the end, ultimately detonating in the hearts of the audience.’ (Indiekino)
‘The tense debate duel increasingly develops into an emotional tour de force.’ (TV Today)
‘A paranoid chamber drama between hatred, radicalisation and reconciliation.’ (Süddeutsche Zeitung)
‘A film unfolds that swings between exposed paranoia mode and deliberate theatricality to become a stylistically subversive and controversially themed two-person chamber drama.’ (EPD)
‘A provocative chamber drama that raises many questions.’ (3Sat Kulturzeit)
‘A fusion of genre and discourse.’ (MagazIn)
More information about the movie: Martin Reads the Quran
More information about the movie label: Artkeim²
