A film by Ulrich Weiss
1935, Nazi Germany. After being released from a camp for political
prisoners, Arnold Clasen returns to Hamburg to lead a quiet life. He contacts
Renate, with whom he is still in love. And, although he is aware of the danger
of doing so, he begins a friendship with Walter, who is active in the resistance.
But as old comrades are arrested one after another, Arnold begins to suspect
that Walter, who remains unscathed, has betrayed them.
This landmark film exploring the role of the individual in confronting anti-fascism
was invited to the Cannes Film Festival. Ironically (and tellingly) it was withdrawn
by the East German authorities, who from that point undermined the artistic
activities of Ulrich Weiss, an independent, untamable and unpredictable talent.
Based on the novel by Willi Bredel.
"A MILESTONE." -MUSEUM OF MODERN ART
“Uses a keen sense of psychological drama to investigate
the intrigue, betrayal and paranoia of the underground resistance movement to
National Socialism in 1930s Hamburg.”
- LEEDS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
"Director Ulrich Weiss was the greatest talent to emerge
from the Babelsberg film school in the 1970s."
-THE OXFORD HISTORY OF WORLD CINEMA
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