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Drama

Western (2018): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Western (2018) movie poster

Western is a 2018 drama directed by Valeska Grisebach, starring Meinhard Neumann as Meinhard, Syuleyman Alilov Letifov and Reinhardt Wetrek. It runs 2 hours 1 minute and earned $155,215 worldwide on a $1.8 million budget. Critics gave it 96% on Rotten Tomatoes and 81 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.0/10.

IMDb rating
7.0/10
Rotten Tomatoes
96%
worldwide gross
$155.2K
Echo Score
77
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Western (2018) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 1m (121 min)
Genre
Drama
Original language
German
Budget
$1.8M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Western About?

The premise of Western without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

A group of German construction workers find themselves working in rural Bulgaria, tasked with building a hydroelectric plant. The unfamiliar landscape and cultural differences create friction between the workers and the local villagers. As tensions rise, a quiet newcomer named Meinhard develops an unexpected connection with the Bulgarians, leading to a tense exploration of trust and understanding in a foreign land.

Western Themes & Keywords

· 28 tags
  • construction
  • language barrier
  • horse
  • quarry
  • stream
  • reference to world war two
  • eastern europe
  • cigarette smoking
  • non professional actor
  • bulgaria
  • migration
  • f rated
+16 more
  • one word title
  • german abroad
  • construction worker
  • infrastructure
  • poverty
  • death of horse
  • water shortage
  • fight
  • village
  • poker
  • tobacco
  • german flag
  • countryside
  • landscape
  • sex scene
  • title directed by female
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Cast & crew

Western Cast & Characters

Meinhard Neumann leads the cast as Meinhard, with Syuleyman Alilov Letifov as Adrian and Reinhardt Wetrek as Vincent. Directed by Valeska Grisebach; 10 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Western

· 6 more
From the director

More from Valeska Grisebach

More films directed by Valeska Grisebach, best-rated first: Longing and Be My Star.

Full filmography
Ratings

Western Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Western 96% on Rotten Tomatoes and 81 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.0/10. Our Echo Score gives it 77/100, strongest in art & craft (90) and weakest in rewatch factor (60).

77 /100

Western Echo Score Breakdown

The film’s measured realism is its foremost strength, delivering an observational portrayal of cultural encounters with precise attention to detail. Critics praised its brooding intelligence, subdued aesthetic, and immersive depiction of tension in a rural setting, while some viewers noted its deliberate pacing and minimal plot resolutions. Although the narrative unfolds slowly and prioritizes atmosphere over conventional momentum, its thematic rigor and visual cohesion sustain engagement. Overall, Western presents a disciplined, if contemplative, cinematic experience.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 90

    In terms of art and craft, the film exhibits a meticulous eye for composition and an understated color palette that accentuates its realist tenor. Cinematography captures the rural landscape with poetic restraint, and the editing maintains cohesion without disrupting the deliberate rhythm. The overall visual and structural unity lends the film a disciplined aesthetic quality.

  • Character & Emotion 75

    When it comes to character and emotion, the film balances authentic performances with restrained emotional expression. Non-professional actors convey subtle interpersonal tensions, particularly in scenes of cultural miscommunication, though some viewers found limited character development and detachment. Nevertheless, the understated portrayal of pride and alienation provides thematic depth. The cumulative effect is quietly compelling yet reserved.

  • Story & Flow 65

    In terms of story and flow, the film delivers a realistic, observational narrative that foregrounds cultural encounters over traditional plot mechanics. The pacing is deliberately slow, allowing thematic tensions to accumulate, though some critiques cite minimal narrative resolution and subdued character arcs. Despite its measured tempo, the film’s originality and focused exploration of pride and otherness maintain engagement throughout its duration.

  • Sensory Experience 80

    When evaluating sensory experience, Western leverages natural soundscapes and an unobtrusive soundtrack to heighten its observational style. Ambient noises and measured silences underscore cultural friction and interior states without overt manipulation. Visually, the cohesive palette and sparse production design reinforce the film’s immersive terrain. The restrained sensory palette contributes to a cohesive and contemplative atmosphere.

  • Rewatch Factor 60

    In terms of rewatch value, the film’s intricate depiction of cultural nuances and thematic subtlety rewards attentive viewers on subsequent viewings. Its deliberate pacing and understated narrative may initially deter casual audiences, but the layers of tension and visual detail emerge more clearly with each revisit. Ultimately, its contemplative style offers modest but meaningful replay appeal.

Plot

Western Plot Summary

What happens in Western from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Meinhard Meinhard Neumann is one of a group of German construction workers hired to build a hydroelectric plant in a remote Bulgarian village near the Greek border. With the water supply needed to mix cement interrupted and the promised gravel never arriving, their work grinds to a halt, leaving them with long, sun-drenched days to fill. While cooling off in a nearby river, they spot local women bathing, and the mood becomes tense when a Bulgarian woman loses her sun hat and the German worker who retrieves it refuses to return it, even trying to push her underwater and souring their first interactions.

Full summary

The whole story of Western, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Western Box Office & Budget

Western grossed $155,215 worldwide on a $1.8 million budget, 9% of what it cost. $41,072 came from the US and Canada and $114,143 (74%) from the rest of the world.

2018 box office

Worldwide gross

$155.2K

9% of its budget back

US & Canada
$41.1K
International
$114.1K
Budget
$1.8M
US & Canada 26% Rest of the world 74%
Videos

Western Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Western.

Western - Official Trailer
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Western?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Who is the main German construction worker who befriends a local family?

Details

Western Also Known As

6 alternative titles, including “Вестерн” and “迷失西方”.

Also known as
  • Вестерн
  • 迷失西方
  • Γουέστερν
  • Уестърн
  • 西部
  • 베스턴

Seen Western?

FAQ

Western FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, post-credit scenes and language of Western, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Western?

Western runs 2 hours 1 minute (121 minutes).

When was Western released?

Western was released on February 16, 2018.

Who directed Western?

Western was directed by Valeska Grisebach.

More films by Valeska Grisebach

Who is in the cast of Western?

Western stars Meinhard Neumann as Meinhard, Syuleyman Alilov Letifov as Adrian and Reinhardt Wetrek as Vincent, among 10 credited actors.

How much did Western make at the box office?

Western grossed $155,215 worldwide ($41,072 domestic, $114,143 international) on a budget of $1.8 million.

How is Western rated?

Western has 7.0/10 on IMDb, 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, 81 on Metacritic and 67% on TMDB.

Does Western have a post-credit scene?

No. Western has no extra scene during or after the credits.

What language is Western in?

The original language of Western is German.

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