Wodzeck

Wodzeck is a 1984 West German drama film directed by Oliver Herbrich[1] based on the 1837 play Woyzeck by Georg Büchner. It was entered into the 14th Moscow International Film Festival.[2] Detlef Kügow here received the "Award for best male actor" for his leading role in the film.

Wodzeck
Directed byOliver Herbrich
Written byOliver Herbrich
Based onWoyzeck
by Georg Büchner
Produced byOliver Herbrich Filmproduction
StarringDetlef Kügow
Ariane Erdelt
Johannes Habla
Charles Brauer
Hans Beerhenke
Leo Bardischewski
Franz A. Huber
Georg Griewe
Mike Fluhme
Christian Meinke
Regula Siegfried
Georg Wiedemeyer
Uwe Franke
Peter Just
Geiorg Baumberger
CinematographyLudolph Weyer
Edited byRomy Schumann
Music byAndreas Hofner
Distributed byendfilm
Release date
  • 8 February 1985 (1985-02-08)
Running time
82 minutes
CountryWest Germany
LanguageGerman

Plot

Franz Wodzeck is worker on a factory production line in the German rust belt region. He lives in a workmen's dwelling on the factory area. To Andres, his roommate, he reports about his fixed ideas, but even Andres cannot help him. His only relief is running out of doors to stroll about one of these decayed areas between civilization and nature. He seems to become a little quiet here.

Usually, his life is going on without any emotion. Leaving off working in the factory he meets Maleen, cashier in the stores. On an evening when she had no time for him he tries to participate on the pleasure seeking of the people. The hard work and the despair make Wodzeck suffering. He entrusts himself to the staffdoctor but that one just wants to preserve Wodzeck's working power. During a porno film show, some of his fellowworkmen call Wodzeck's attention on Maleen's new relations with the boss who had invited her for a dance on the workshop Christmas party. Wodzeck can't believe that. Nevertheless he goes to meet her. But Maleen isn't aware of breaking down his life when she tells him to want to enjoy her life.

Suddenly Wodzeck feels lonely and forsaken. In a taxi he rides the streets in the city, aimless and desperate. At night, he feels tormented by horrible dreams recalling his time in the mortuary. In great haste he puts on his clothes and runs out of the door. Without success he tries again to meet Maleen. Anxious, he is listening to imaginary voices. “What? Even the wind is whispering that?” Wodzeck is horrified. In the evening he watches again Maleen dancing with her new friend. In the discotheque the stroboscope flashes seem to shatter all their motions. He feels every picture burned again in his brain.

Next morning, he has finished his outlook on life, he is hopeless. He bequests all his effects to Andres who cannot help him. After all he buys in an ironmonger's shop the knife. Without looking anywhere he stabs Maleen to death. After that, he seems to recover his senses. When he realizes that he had killed what has been the most beloved being in his life, madness is overwhelming him.

He is apprehended walking round the street. On several psychological expert reports he is declared insane. After his installation in a psychiatric asylum, he further feels neither anxiety nor desire. He simply exists.[3][4]

Reception

Herbrich commissioned film composer Andreas Hofner to create some pop songs with German lyrics for the film[5] – a task he only reluctantly accepted. The film was premiered at the 18th Hof International Film Festival[6] in 1984.

Wodzeck was presented at 20 international film festivals.[7] In Germany it was released by enfilm, Christian Meinke, who also appeared as the taxi driver in the film.[8] In 2017, the 35mm film was digitally remastered and re-released in the Fiction – Non-Fiction Film Edition.[9]

Literature
  • Barbara Braam "Literarische Vorlage und filmische Aktualisierung. Zu O. Herbrichs Wodzeck", Aachen 1989 (Rheinisch Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen)
  • Oliver Herbrich "Wodzeck - Drehbuch", 2018 (Fiction – Non-Fiction Film Edition) ISBN 978-3-00-058911-9

References
  1. "Wodzeck - official film website". Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  2. "14th Moscow International Film Festival (1985)". MIFF. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
  3. The text of the scroll title at the film's end was taken from Büchner's novela Lenz.
  4. Johann Christian August Clarus (2nd report) and Georg Büchner (novela Lenz). "Prologue/Epilogue Wodzeck (Engl/German)" (PDF).
  5. Hofner, Andreas. "Wodzeck - lyrics (German and English)" (PDF). Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  6. Hof International Film Festival. "Home of Films - Archive 1984". Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  7. "Wodzeck - German and international festival screenings" (PDF). Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  8. "Filmtrailer endfilm (English subtitles)". Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  9. Fiction – Non-Fiction Film Edition. "Filmrestauration". Retrieved 24 August 2021.
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