A young refugee couple from the eastern regions of the former Third Reich struggles through a rather miserable life in München (Munich). Like many other "Heimatvertriebene" (expellees), Eva (Maria SCHELL) and Stefan Berger (Hardy KRÜGER, GOLDEN GLOBE nominee 1966 for "The Flight of the Phoenix") are still living in the refugee barracks years after the war. In order to be able to contribute some money to survive, Eva hires herself as an extra in films.
By chance, the autocratic film director Frank Tornau (O. W. FISCHER) becomes aware of the beautiful woman and begins to take an interest in her dramatic escape story. The director persuades Eva - against her husbands express wishes - to be allowed to film her story of suffering. To make matters worse, she is also supposed to play herself in the film drama, which Tornaus previous favorite (Brigitte HORNEY) - in life as well as as an actress - of course does not like at all.
However, things develop very differently than the director had hoped. He is confronted with a severely traumatized young woman who experiences a kind of re-traumatization as a result of the shooting.
Harald BRAUN succeeds in creating a fascinating mixture of a refugee drama and a sophisticated film-within-a-film-self-reflection, which is excellently acted and was also well received by West German cinema audiences. In 1954 the film made it into competition at the Cannes Film Festival.
Very worth seeing film!
By chance, the autocratic film director Frank Tornau (O. W. FISCHER) becomes aware of the beautiful woman and begins to take an interest in her dramatic escape story. The director persuades Eva - against her husbands express wishes - to be allowed to film her story of suffering. To make matters worse, she is also supposed to play herself in the film drama, which Tornaus previous favorite (Brigitte HORNEY) - in life as well as as an actress - of course does not like at all.
However, things develop very differently than the director had hoped. He is confronted with a severely traumatized young woman who experiences a kind of re-traumatization as a result of the shooting.
Harald BRAUN succeeds in creating a fascinating mixture of a refugee drama and a sophisticated film-within-a-film-self-reflection, which is excellently acted and was also well received by West German cinema audiences. In 1954 the film made it into competition at the Cannes Film Festival.
Very worth seeing film!
