Film "Der Schritt vom Wege" D | 1939 with Knut Elstermann
Fontane's "Effi Briest" is one of the great women's novels of world literature - and at the same time the most filmed German novel ever. The tragic story of a woman who is cast out by a morally strict, hypocritical society has inspired numerous directors in film history: Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Gustav Gründgens and Hermine Huntgeburth. Angelica Domröse's portrayal made a deep impression on GDR television.
Over the course of the year, we will be showing these four films that are well worth seeing! The special film series with director Knut Elsternmann will be accompanied by discussions with specialists and artists about the impact and topicality of Fontane's most famous material. The series concludes with "Der Schritt vom Wege" by Gustaf Gründgens - with his wife Marianne Hoppe in the leading role . The film is based on a play by Ernst Wichert freely adapted from Fontane and sparked a new interest in the novel at the time. The film was shot in Babelsberg.
Before that, we are delighted to talk to Gabriele Radecke. The Fontane expert was awarded the University of Göttingen Prize in 2017 for her long-standing commitment to mediating between academia and the public. Her most important publication is the online edition of Fontane's 67 notebooks. Gabriele Radecke has headed the Literary Archive of the Academy of Arts, Berlin, since 2020.
Part III of the series with the film adaptation by Rainer Werner Fassbinder and with Hanna Schygulla as a guest on September 28.
