The fiery passions of St. John's Eve: West German HEIMATFILM (local film) with Sonja Sutter and Erik Schumann
At the beginning you also see the dark sides of the patriarch. Christian von Hergeth (Willy Birgel) is an idiosyncratic man. He once disowned his second wife (Hertha Feiler, Heinz Rühmann's second wife) because she preferred to further her opera career in New York City. Now he looks after their daughter Micky (Ingrid Simon) alone (with the support of the abundant staff, of course!). The girl is so neglected that she has to make a little Bambi named Hansi her best friend. Meanwhile, the lordly dad has his eye on the very young Irene (Sonja Sutter), who would then be wife number 3. But Irene meets the dashing Lorenz (Erik Schumann) in nearby Munich. It's just stupid that he's the adult son from Hergeth's first marriage. But in the meantime the opera singer has already secretly bugged her most beloved little daughter. Fortunately, St. John's Eve is approaching, which will bring the solution to all problems...
You can tell that this is a typical local film from the heyday of the genre. Lots of animals, a lonely child, erotic triangular constellations, an overbearing patriarch and lots of fresh country air! What's special is that ACADEMY AWARD nominee Harald Reinl (he was nominated in 1971 for his documentary "ERINNERUNGEN AN DIE ZUKUNFT / Remembrance of the Future") directs the film. Dramatic color design and wild landscape shots make this off-the-shelf local film a cinematic experience well worth seeing. It becomes clear why Harald Reinl, of all people, became the maker of "DER SCHATZ IM SILBERSEE / Treasure in Silver Lake" and other Karl May film adaptations.
