Perfume: The Story of a Murderer

German director Tom Tykwer began shooting Perfume: The Story of a Murderer on this day in 2005. With cast members Ben Wishaw, Dustin Hoffman, Alan Rickman and Rachel Hurd-Wood in tow, the production began at Bavaria Studios in Munich and followed with shoots throughout Spain. To achieve the feeling of 18th Century France, Tykwer employed more than 50 young men and women he called the “Dirt Unit” to disperse and remove all dirt used in a scene. Perfume, based on the novel of the same name by Patrick Suskind, is about young orphan Jean-Baptiste Grenouille (Wishaw) and his innate talent for scents. As the child matures, so do his abilities until he discovers the ultimate perfume: The scent given off by a young girl after death. To complete his growing collection, Grenouille must gather a sample from a redhead (Hurd-Wood) before her father (Rickman) or the authorities catch up to him. Perfume premiered in Munich, Germany on Sept. 7, 2006 and went on to a limited U.S. opening on December 27.

Factoid: Director Tykwer employed cinematographer Frank Griebe to recreate all that was gritty and vibrant in Grenouilleâ€(tm)s life. Take notice: When the main character starts off in a sad state at a tannery, Griebe kept the movie muted and devoid of much color, but as the young artist gains control of his talent, things start looking a bit brighter all around.