Why did Ernst Jürgen choose to do that in the film Unknown?
I did not understand this scene in Unknown (2011) at all, an old guy called Rodney Cole rings up Ernst Jürgen and wants to meet. Ernst Jürgen then instead of using time between phone call and Rodney's arrival to escape, or even prepare a trap for Rodney, he does nothing but wait.
They're both old and would hardly resolve to a fight, even though Rodney probably would win due to sheer size over Ernst, yet a physical encounter never came to it as when Ernst tells Rodney he knows he is from "sector 15" he then takes cyanide powder and dies.
Why did Ernst Jürgen commit suicide??
Best Answer
The answer is right there in the scene:
Cole turning to face Jurgen. Smile gone. Glint of a gun inside his jacket. Jurgen looking steadily back at him. Takes a deep gulp of coffee.
COLE: You had fifteen minutes after I called. Why didn't you run?
JURGEN: Where would I run from Section 15, Mr. Cole? I can hardly walk.
And then later on:
COLE: I want to know how he found you. I want every number, every source you've contacted on his behalf.
JURGEN: And then what? We shake hands and you go away?
Cole reaches a hand inside his jacket...
JURGEN (CONT'D): There's no need for that.
Beat. Cole's eyes flicker. Jurgen's body tightening... the coffee... the empty sachet of sweetener...
(From IMSDb.)
Cole may be an old man too, but he is armed and his ruthlessness is seen clearly enough in the later scene when he deals with Martin. Jürgen - the old Stasi man who is already dying of lung cancer - would rather die on his own terms than be interrogated then murdered.
I love that scene: two fantastic performances and a real air of mutual respect between old adversaries. To my mind it feels like a scene from a proper spy drama like Tinker Tailor grafted into an action thriller.
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What is section 15 in the movie Unknown?
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This article was published more than 11 years ago. Some information may no longer be current. In Unknown, Liam Neeson plays Dr. Martin Harris, a botanist who arrives in Berlin with his wife (January Jones) to attend a biotech conference.Success story of Ernst \u0026 Young | How did Ernst \u0026 Young become so successful?
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Answer 2
He was an ex spy so kept the cyanide in that tin behind the coffee incase he needed to kill hhimself instead of giving out any information that people such as Cole would have wanted.
He knew he wasn't going to get away when Cole phoned him so instead of trying to run and end up dead anyway, he got the kettle ready for his coffee, added the cyanide and committed suicide.
Answer 3
Suppose the key sentence was "where should i run from Section 15..." It looks like Jurgen decided there was no chance of escaping.
Also, suicide was probably the most pleasant option for him rather than being tortured or shot. He probably wants to protect Martin, too. I have a feeling Jurgen wants to help Martin. He also said "there's not much left in this world to interest an old spy like me", which sounds to me like he's kinda tired of life already. A combination of all these seems to be why he chose suicide.
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