Austrian documentarian Elisabeth Scharang makes the difficult transition to fiction filmmaking look easy as she tackles the already challenging subject of the closing days of World War II.
Twenty Hungarian Jews are stranded in an Austrian village when the Nazi command is thrown into disarray in the final days of World War II. Hoping to win over the locals and ensure their safety, the group decides to stage an operetta for the local residents who are in desperate need of a lift from their despondency. With surprising comedic elements, the ensemble provides generous and darkly humorous performances in an otherwise ominous scenario.
Scharang's debut fictional feature pulls no punches in this story of compassion and strength in one of humanity's darkest hours.
Print Source: Austrian Film Commission, Anne Laurent, festivals@afc.at
