The film genre of HEIMATFILM is actually the genre of German-language cinema in general. Especially in the 1950s, HEIMATFILM experienced a renewed heyday after the million-dollar successes of SCHWARZWALDMÄDEL (1950) and GRÜN IS DIE HEIDE (1951). The genre is still controversial and ridiculed today. But there are also good and very interesting examples from this area. The film WALDWINTER by Wolfgang LIEBENEINER is a film gem from the HEIMATFILM genre that can be rediscovered.
At the beginning we see a service in a Silesian church. Sabine BETHMANN, as Baron Malte's (Rudolf FORSTER) foster daughter Marianne, wears an innocent white fur collar. A fearsome Klaus KINSKI gropes a little girl during worship. Suddenly Wehrmacht soldier Martin (Claus HOLM), a grandson of the Baron, can be seen in front of the church portal. The Red Army continues to advance. The Baron and Baroness (Helene THIMIG) decide to flee to the Bavarian Forest with the entire village. There the nobles have a not very comfortable hunting lodge in which everyone can temporarily stay...
Ten years later, the temporary arrangement has become a thriving community. Everyone has settled in well in the Bavarian Forest, although the longing for their Silesian homeland remains. You can also earn a lot from glass blowing and wood processing, enough for the entire village community. But the manager Stengel (Willy A. KLEINAU) and his cunning wife (Ilse STEPPAT) have their own plans. They would like to see a large hotel built there. So it's a good thing that Martin is visiting the family again after ten years in Paris. In Paris he is linked to the sophisticated Frenchwoman Simone (Erica BEER), and now he also really likes his foster sister Marianne (BETHMANN!). And then there is the beautiful Inge (Susanne CRAMER), who now has a kind of on/off relationship with the doting Otto (Klaus KINSKI). Complications typical of the genre are taken care of. There is also an almost fatal shot, in which the famous Margarete HAAGEN is used as Kräutermarie.
This film is really really well done. Great colors, great costumes, wonderful pictures of the white snow! It was shot in Viechtach in the Regen district, but the action supposedly takes place in Falkenstein. In West German cinemas, 2,876,000 visitors wanted to see the film, which was even sold to the USA as WINTER IN THE WOODS.
You learn a surprising amount about the mentality and problems of the 1950s through this well-acted and efficiently edited homeland film. Loss of home, new beginnings, tradition and commercialization are themes that are brought to life with well-written characters. The film is like a very entertaining excursion into the early years of post-war Germany. Very nicely done!
The actors are all excellent! In addition to Klaus KINSKI, Gert FRÖBE, another future world star, can be seen. It's a shame that the great Sabine BETHMANN couldn't take on the female lead role alongside Kirk DOUGLAS in SPARTACUS that was offered to her due to other contractual obligations. Shortly before her death, Ilse STEPPAT went down in film history as a Bond villain in HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE (1969). Susanne CRAMER (1936 - 1969), who also died prematurely, became a busy series actress (BONANZA) in Hollywood. In those years, Claus HOLM was the most robust German actor (THE TIGER OF ESCHNAPUR). And the funny Margarete HAAGEN is known from the successful trilogy about THE GIRLS FROM IMMENHOF.
Truly a little HEIMATFILM gem from the heyday of the West German film industry!
