7500 is a 2019 action-thriller film written and directed by Patrick Vollrath in his directorial feature-length film debut. It stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Tobias Ellis, a pilot whose plane is hijacked by terrorists. An international co-production between Austria, Germany, and the United States, filming took place in November 2017 in Cologne and Vienna. The title is in reference to Emergency Transponder Code for “unlawful interference”.
The film’s world premiere occurred at the Locarno Film Festival on August 9, 2019, and was digitally released in the United States on June 18, 2020, by Amazon Studios. 7500 received mixed reviews from critics, although Gordon-Levitt’s performance was praised.
Plot
Captain Michael Lutzmann (Carlo Kitzlinger) and First Officer Tobias Ellis (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) are preparing for a flight aboard an A319 from Berlin to Paris. Tobias talks to one of the flight attendants, who happens to be his girlfriend, Gökce. Lutzmann re-enters the cockpit and they begin their pre-flight checks.
Once airborne, one of the flight attendants begins bringing the pilots their in-flight meals. Terrorists use this opportunity to attempt a hijack by forcing their way into the cockpit, killing the flight attendant in the process. One terrorist successfully enters and attacks Lutzmann, while Tobias fights off another and seals the cockpit door. Tobias is badly wounded in the process. Lutzmann is stabbed by the remaining terrorist as he radios “mayday”, while Tobias manages to subdue the remaining terrorist in the cockpit. Tobias signals Air Traffic Control and is ordered to divert the flight to Hannover, then restrains the terrorist and straps him in the jump seat. Lutzmann becomes unconscious, and Tobias unsuccessfully attempts CPR.
The remaining terrorists continuously attempt to break into the cockpit. Tobias informs ground control of the events that have transpired. Tobias is reminded by control that he is not permitted to open the cockpit door. Inside the cockpit, Tobias watches a camera feed of the entrance to the cockpit, which reveals that a passenger has been taken hostage by the terrorists. The terrorists begin threatening to kill the hostage unless Tobias opens the door. Tobias pleads with one of the terrorists on the intercom, Vedat (Omid Memar), telling Vedat that the cockpit door cannot be opened, but one of the terrorists executes the passenger anyway.
Tobias attempts to render first aid to himself. The terrorists return with another hostage. It is revealed to be one of the flight attendants, Gökce. Tobias pleads with them to spare her life, and then attempts to summon the passengers to her rescue by informing them that the terrorists are poorly armed. He pleads with Vedat to intervene but to no avail. Gökce is killed as he watches.
Tobias resumes piloting the plane. Unbeknownst to him, the terrorist he subdued earlier manages to sneak out of his restraints and knocks Tobias unconscious. The terrorist opens the door to allow Vedat inside the cockpit, who has escaped the passengers attacking the remaining terrorists in the cabin. Vedat manages to close the door and he ties up Tobias as the terrorist takes control of the plane. It becomes clear that he intends to crash the plane, but Vedat suffers a crisis of conscience. Fearing death, he kills his co-hijacker. He frees Tobias, who goes on to explain that the plane is low on fuel and needs to land.
Vedat demands they fly somewhere else, but eventually relents and helps the injured Tobias to land the plane in Hannover. After they land, the passengers escape while a police negotiator begins communicating to the cockpit via radio. Vedat demands fuel during negotiations, becoming emotionally unstable as he is faced with the outcome of his actions. Tobias pleads with the young man to surrender. Eventually, Vedat grows more aggressive and threatens to kill Tobias, but is shot by a German police sniper and incapacitated.
The police enter the cockpit as Tobias tries to save Vedat. As Tobias is escorted off the plane, he pleads for the police to summon a doctor for Vedat. The film ends as Tobias sees Gökce’s body outside the cockpit as he and Vedat are escorted off the plane by the police.
Cast
Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Tobias Ellis
Omid Memar as Vedat
Murathan Muslu as Kenan
Aylin Tezel as Gökce
Aurélie Thépaut as Nathalie
Carlo Kitzlinger as Michael Lutzmann
Paul Wollin as Daniel
Reviews
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