A work in constant progress (and occasional regress).
Release Date:
February 28, 1979
Original Title:
Die erste Polka
Genres:
Drama
Production Companies:
Bavaria Film
Neue Deutsche Filmgesellschaft
WDR
Production Countries:
Germany
Ratings / Certifications:
N/A
Runtime: 96
The intertwined lives of people of both Polish and German extraction who live on the pre-World War II border between the two countries are explored in this drama. Valeska is the Polish/German matriarch of a family living on the German side of the border. Her son is involved with the Hitler youth, but nonetheless keeps secret the presence on family land of a Jew who is hiding from the authorities. When the son inadvertently kills a soldier to prevent his sister from being raped, he runs away after borrowing money from the Jewish man. When soldiers come to the family's door looking for the missing soldier who had been billeted there, the Jewish man commits suicide. In another episode, one of the family's daughters marries a German soldier in a ceremony presided over by a Polish priest.
Assistant Director:
An Dorthe Braker
Costume Design:
Barbara Baum
Director:
Klaus Emmerich
Director of Photography:
Michael Ballhaus
Editor:
Hannes Nikel
Executive Producer:
Lutz Hengst
Novel:
Horst Bienek
Original Music Composer:
Edward Aniol
Producer:
Helmut Krapp
Production Design:
Herbert Strabel
Rolf Zehetbauer
Production Manager:
Dixie Sensburg
Sound:
Günter Blumhagen
Unit Manager:
Rolf M. Degener
Winfried Demuss
Writer:
Helmut Krapp
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