Der Bockerer 2

I watched the comedy "Der Bockerer" on German TV in the second half of the 1980s, and I remembered it for years. It's no wonder that I also watched "Der Bockerer II," and I liked that film too. This time, a nice butcher from Vienna (Karl Merkatz) saves a couple of lovers, an Austrian and a Russian, from their troubles. The action takes place in the interesting scenery of post-war Austria in the Soviet occupation zone. The sequel, made 15 years after the original film, features the same director and lead actor. Director Franz Antel was very keen to remain faithful to the original and therefore hired an actor from Moscow for the role of the Russian general. Even if the story is not very plausible, the setting of post-war Vienna looks very authentic, and Karl Merkatz's acting is simply wonderful. The characters are very likable, and the film does not offend anyone and shows that Russians, Austrians, and Americans can get along with each other. Apart from the warm humor, what I liked most about this film was its humane and constructive approach to other people.