The Tour de France, toughest cycle race in the world, celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2003. Year after year millions of spectators across the globe are gripped by the large-scale event and watch images of mass finishes, agonising mountain ascents and wearing time trials. Oscar® winner Pepe Danquart accompanied the anniversary tour with three camera teams and made a fascinating film which sets new standards. Even though Hell on Wheels captures the magic of the race convincingly, it is anything but an official Tour de France film. Amidst the beauty of the countryside and the tension of the race, Dan-quart and co-director Werner Swiss Schweizer remain focused on the cyclists and show the suffering and pain, fears and weaknesses of the event's heroes. Danquart and Schweizer deliver an inside view of the race and take the view-er closer to the people in the saddle first and foremost the congenial long-time friends Erik Zabel and Rolf Aldag. But the film also tells the story of the Tour de France itself of the media battle, the gigantic organisational task involved and the cycling-mad spectators in the streets and pubs, and in front of the TVs. > Download flyer		Documentary, 2004 120 min., 35mm Original version: German / french In theaters: 07.06.2004 (Germany) 02.09.2004 (Switzerland) Screenplay: Pepe Danquart Director: Werner Swiss Schweizer Photography: Michael Hammon, Wolfgang Thaler & Fililp Zumbrunn Editor: Mona Bräuer Sound: Wolfgang Widmer & Paul Oberle Music: Till Brönner Cast: Rolf Aldag, Erik Zabel Premiere: 07.06.2004 Festivals: (selection) Göteborg Film Festival; Adelaide Film Festival Production: Quinte Film Co-production: Dschoint Ventschr Filmproduktion, Multimedia Film- und Fernsehproduktions GmbH Producer: Mirjam Quinte Commissioning editors: Hans Robert Eisenhauer (ARTE), Jutta Krug (WDR), Paul Riniker (SF DRS) World sales: Media Luna Entertainment Distribution (CH): Look Now! Filmverleih