Wenn der weiße Flieder wieder blüht

After the idyllic images of the credits where spring is in the air, we see something quite rare for 'Heimatfilme' so widespread in German post-war cinema. A middle aged man hides a knife behind his back. What does he need it for? Surely, the early 1950s saw the audience bored with violence so...it is in no way a Hitchcock-like suspense or a thriller that could absorb even the most 'bored and skeptical' viewers. Soon, however, when we realize the comical motives of the man with the knife, we put aside the violent expectation but sink within the 'kitschy' world of this film that some scholars would probably call 'chocolate with sugar.' WHEN WHITE LILACS BLOOM AGAIN - a true representative of a 'Heimatfilm'

The whole storyline with more or less convincing aspects could be described as 'torments of a couple that cannot stand each other's differences and remain separated as long as someone important appears in between them and leads towards happy ending' Quite many lacks in character development and some inconsistencies of continuity. And yet, WHEN WHITE LILACS BLOOM AGAIN is a movie that appears to be highly worth seeing and remains a milestone of German post war cinema...

Perhaps, it would be forgotten today if it did not play a significant role in the career of one actress who, perhaps after Marlene Dietrich and Hildegard Knef, was the most successful German speaking actress in the history of cinema. Directed by Hans Deppe, it is a film where a great German star of the pre-war period, Magda Schneider, along with other celebrities of the time, introduces her child, Rosemarie Retty Albach (later known to the world as ROMY SCHNEIDER), to the industry. 15 year-old Rosemarie, by meeting the director Hans Deppe in Munich, takes her best chance to get what she had dreamed of ever since she was small: career as an actress. It is a joy to see young, unfocused and still inexperienced Romy in the role of Evchen, a girl who at last discovers who her father is. What may occur more captivating and more memorable than the debut?

The very first time? In her diary, Romy herself mentioned her surprising encounter with the medium and generally with the work of an actress, a job she had always dreamed of. As a kid, she had imagined it differently and the autumn of 1953 brought the reality in full. Having left the boarding school at Goldenstein and the still idyllic Bavaria, she was surprised with Cologne (with war destruction) and the techniques of acting before a camera. Director Deppe reduced the fear in a young actress and helped her handle the performance (the note in Romy's diary says that he kept saying: 'Don't look at the camera'). But what was perfect for the young girl with unbelievable talent was the role itself: she is not a princess from some distant world but a simple girl, a daughter of a famous father but with a pack of friends who keep her company. Moreover, she plays a very young person whose lines carry resemblance in the actress's real life. Her mum, Magda, is also her mum in the movie (like it is the case with later SISSI Trilogy). And the scenes...

...there are many sweet scenes that young Rosemarie makes charming and special. The fresh performance with lots of youthful enthusiasm and beauty makes the moments vibrant and lively. She clearly feels comfortable playing with her mother than with other cast but, generally, she creates a unique atmosphere throughout with the climax of the song being sung together with her famous daddy. Most memorably, she utters "Himmlisch" (heavenly) while her friend utters 'uebererdisch' (unearthly). Therefore, if there is a constructive criticism which addresses this movie, it surely fails in case of Romy Schneider - she is the ultimate plus of this film.

Magda Schneider as Therese Forster crafts her 1930s scenes that recall a pleasant comedy, EVA (1935), in particular. The scene when her husband is singing his dedication to her is a clear reference to the appealing style that the viewers of the time were used to. Ms Schneider is unforgettable in the scene when a very special song is being played on the radio, the song that gives an answer to her dilemmas. Also, her meaningful tears in the theater and visual attention being caught remain a unique impact of a classical actress on her audience... Willy Fritsch is adequate in the role but not outstanding. It is hard to play a famous person whose attention, in a long run, is stolen by the younger and more attractive. Besides, the script itself makes it difficult for the actor to feel at ease. Among the supporting cast, Paul Klinger's role of uncle Peter deserves attention.

Kept in the style of a musical movie, it offers some truly musical moments that maintain the charm of the time. The songs are sweet but fit well to the genre. The spots are authentic, in particular, the ones shot on location at Wiesbaden (not so common for Heimatfilme). Besides, the images of spring and the title lilacs provide mood which consoled the viewers of the time and, symbolically, directed their impressions towards hopeful future. And for us now?

For us today, it is purely a Romy Schneider film more significant 30 years after her death. The very first movie when all white lilacs bloomed for her approaching career.

This has everything you expect from German films from the 1950s, with lavish song routines, chocolate-box German scenery, and a setting in a 1920s/1930s Germany as it might have been with no Great Depression and no Adolf Hitler. But, though I can't give more details because of the risk of spoiling the plot, it stands out because of its unusual take on divorce. The ending is definitely not what I thought it was going to be, and must have shocked many in the original audience.

The film is also notable for the acting of two characters. The actress Romy Schneider, here in an important supporting role, would later come to be one of Germany's best-loved actresses, for example when she played the title role in Sissi. But most interesting was the actress who played Willy's manager, who I think must be Ellen (Hertha Feiler), who adopts a deliberately "modern" style, and is largely responsible for frustrating the ending one might have expected.

I love these German movies of the 50's. Especially this one because it was shot in my hometown, exteriors and the lavish sound stages too. Sadly all the studios have been closed down a long time ago. But hey I pass the wonderful balcony of Tereses' almost every day. Back to topic: a nice, even risqué story, Romy Schneider in her first role (stealing every scene from her mother who was a really bad actress). What made me laugh were the Busby Berkeley-like stages where Bill Perry performed contrasted to about 10 rows of enthusiastic extras who looked like sitting in a small schoolhouse audience. And the beauty of the costumes and of Hertha Feiler. Sigh. Wiesbaden was a contender to be the capital of German film-making. Sadly these days are gone.

I always feel like I have to explain why I like this movie.

The beginning of the movie is really stupid: a woman is married to a professional singer and divorces him because he sang a love-song looking to another woman in the audience. For the people who keep watching after this scene, there is a nice hour of movie-watching coming.

Sixteen years later. The divorced woman's daughter falls for a singer. The movie is about how everybody reacts upon her crush. It is a sunny story with songs that stay with you all day. The characters are friendly and all persons react really logical on the events.

I hope more people watch this, and become to like it.