Rheingold
2022 [GERMAN]
Action / Biography / Crime / Drama / Music

Plot summary
Xatar’s way from the ghetto to the top of the charts is as dramatic as it is daring: Fatih Akin’s new film is based on the autobiographical novel »Alles oder Nix« (»All or Nothing«) of the probably most authentic exponent of German gangsta rap. From the hell of an Iraqi jail, Giwar Hajabi (Emilio Sakraya) emigrated to Germany as a young boy with his family in the mid-1980s and has to start right at the bottom. There are opportunities, but far more obstacles. Giwar’s rise from petty criminal to major dealer is swift. Until one shipment goes missing. In order to clear his debts with the cartel, he plans a legendary gold heist. But just as everything goes wrong, another door opens for Giwar thanks to his passion for music …
Director
Top cast
Tech specs
720p.BLU 1080p.BLUMovie Reviews
Unexpected Excellence: Rheingold Brings a Fresh Spin on Gangster Drama
The "true" story of Xatar
"Rheingold" tells the fictional story of Xatar, the rapper and gangster from Bonn. First of all, it should be mentioned that you should not expect a biography. This film is more aligned with gangster epics like "Scarface," "Blow," etc. While it takes the artistic persona of Xatar and tells a very Hollywood-style story of his rise, it largely follows events that likely did happen, such as the gold heist or his prison album. However, I strongly doubt that much of it happened exactly as shown. If you watch the film with this mindset, you will have a good time. I really enjoyed the film. Emilio Sakraya shines in his role as Xatar, and you can tell he had a lot of fun playing him.
The first third, which focuses on Xatar's youth, is a bit cumbersome. It could have been shorter. Once the main story with the adult Xatar begins, the film picks up speed. The overall acting is a mixed bag. Emilio and his comrades do a pretty good job. However, there are other German actors who act too theatrically. Unfortunately, this is often the case with German films, where there is a lot of exaggerated gesticulation and mimicry.
All in all, I had a good time. Especially for a German film, "Rheingold" is really worth watching.