The Second Awakening of Christa Klages

The Second Awakening of Christa Klages (German: Das zweite Erwachen der Christa Klages) is a 1978 West German drama film directed by Margarethe von Trotta, her debut solo film.

The Second Awakening of Christa Klages
Theatrical release poster
Directed byMargarethe von Trotta
Written byMargarethe von Trotta
Luisa Francia
Produced byEberhard Junkersdorf
Gunther Witte
CinematographyFranz Rath
Edited byAnnette Dorn
Marie-Luise Bauer
Music byKlaus Doldinger
Production
companies
Bioskop Film GmbH
Westdeutscher Rundfunk
Distributed byFilmverlag der Autoren GmbH
Co. Vertriebs KG
Release date
24 February 1978 (Berlin International Film Festival)
Running time
89 Minutes
CountryWest Germany
LanguageGerman

Plot

Worried about the prospects of her children's day care center and running out of money, Christa Klages, a young mother, robs a bank with the help of her lover Werner Wiedemann and another friend. When Werner is killed during the heist and when it becomes clear that the police are after her, Christa flees to Portugal to seek help from another friend, Ingrid Häkele, a situation that threatens both women's safety.

Cast
  • Tina Engel as Christa Klages
  • Silvia Reize as Ingrid Häkele
  • Katharina Thalbach as Lena Seidlhofer
  • Marius Müller-Westernhagen as Werner Wiedemann
  • Peter Schneider as Hans Grawe
  • Ulrich von Dobschütz as Heinz Häkele
  • Erika Wackernagel as Hans' Mother
  • Friedrich Kaiser as Wolfgang
  • Achim Krausz as Bank Director
  • Fritz Ley as Old Man
  • Gertrud Thomele as Christa's Mother
  • Rosa Sämmer as Janitress
  • Margit Czenki as Kindergarten Teacher Reingard
  • Peter Koj as Erich Grawe
  • Hildegard Linden as Woman
  • Ingrid Kraus as Lena's Colleague
  • Natascha Steuer as Mischa Klages
  • Josef Bierbichler as Homeowner
  • Luisa Francia as Christa's Friend
  • Felix Moeller as Boy
  • Helga Kirchlechner
  • Bruno Thost
  • Karl Tischlinger

Release

The film was released on DVD by Water Bearer Films in 2005 as part of a box set together with Sisters, or the Balance of Happiness and Sheer Madness.[1]

Reception

Critical reception has been overwhelmingly positive. The film was nominated for the best feature award (Gold Hugo) at the 1978 Chicago International Film Festival and has won the following awards, all in 1978: Otto-Dibelius-Preis, Deutscher Filmpreis (Filmband in Gold for acting as well as Filmband in Silber) and FBW (Deutsche Film- und Medienbewertung for high overall quality).[2] It was called a "very earnest movie" by The New York Times critic Vincent Canby,[3] an "acutely observed reflection" by Scott Tobias,[4] and "compelling" by London's Time Out.[5] A few reviews, however, were more negative. For example, Chicago Reader critic Dave Kehr wrote that "the film is very, very dull" and disliked what he saw as the overly serious demeanor of the characters.[6]

References
  1. "The Second Awakening of Christa Klages". Water Bearer Films. Archived from the original on 29 December 2013. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  2. "Das zweite Erwachen der Christa Klages". Film Portal (in German). Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  3. Canby, Vincent (17 May 1979). "Movie Review The Second Awakening of Christa Klages (1978) Screen: Christa Klages: Profoundly Political". The New York Times. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  4. Tobias, Scott (29 March 2002). "The Second Awakening of Christa Klages". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  5. Adams, Derek (24 June 2006). "The Second Awakening of Christa Klages". Time Out London. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  6. Kehr, Dave (1 January 2000). "The Second Awakening of Christa Klages". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
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