It centers on the ill-fated love story between a Viennese ex-con and a Ukrainian prostitute who get involved in a bank robbery.

Alex plans to rob a bank in a small village, then hide out with his grandfather, Hausner, who lives there, before leaving with Tamara to start a new life together.

Robert suffers a panic attack at work and is put on suspension, finally opening up to Susanne about his guilt over the shooting and general self-loathing.

The film opened on 12 February 2009 in German cinemas and was subsequently released at different times in various European countries and the United States over the following months.

Variety's Alissa Simon noted: "Elegantly spinning primal elements of guilt, revenge, faith and redemption, helmer's [sic] gripping fifth feature is prime fest material that's likely to rate Euro arthouse exposure, with further viewers in ancillary.

(...) Asking the question, "Whose fault is it if life doesn't go your way?," the cleverly constructed script introduces some fresh and surprising twists and turns.

(...) Impressive lensing from Martin Gschlacht, the key cinematographer for Austria's young helmers [sic], provides simplicity and clarity, while concise cutting by Karina Ressler allows no gratuitous moments in a pic that clocks in at just over two hours.

The website's critical consensus states, "With Revanche, Götz Spielmann has crafted a debut as surprising as it is suspenseful".