The Universal Theory

Set in 1962, The Universal Theory follows Johannes, a young physics doctoral student who travels with his supervisor to a scientific congress at a hotel in the Swiss Alps. The gathering is meant to feature an Iranian scientist presenting a new theory in quantum mechanics, but the speaker is delayed, leaving the assembled physicists to fill the time with dinners and ski excursions. Johannes becomes involved with Karin, a jazz pianist staying at the hotel who appears to know things about him she should not. When a German physicist dies violently, investigators arrive and suspicion of murder replaces any assumption of natural causes. Karin vanishes, unusual cloud formations appear overhead, and Johannes begins to probe a secret concealed beneath the mountain.

The film is directed by Timm Kröger, who wrote the screenplay with Roderick Warich and also produced alongside Heino Deckert and Rajko Jazbec. It is a co-production between Germany, Austria, France and Switzerland. Jan Bülow plays Johannes, with Olivia Ross as Karin, and Hanns Zischler, Gottfried Breitfuß, Philippe Graber and David Bennent among the supporting cast, which numbers 43 credited performers.

Released in October 2023 and running 118 minutes, the film holds a rating of 6.1 out of 10 on IMDb from around 1,500 votes and 5.9 out of 10 on TMDB from a much smaller sample of 64 votes. The two audience scores are close, indicating a similar and moderate level of viewer approval across both platforms.