Life is tranquil at the beautiful village of Oberstdorf until the
arrival of gypsies to the village. Their reception is far from warm;
only reluctantly does the mayor permit them to stay and only until
their broken wagon wheel is repaired. However, the mayor's sons, Hans
und Michel are fascinated immediately by the exotic gypsy Saffy who
knows pretty well how to use her gypsy charms. Very soon both brothers
will try to gain the favours of Saffy but the gypsy woman uses them
only for her gypsy interests, mostly to take revenge for the bad
treatment that her people have received from the village. To make
things worse, a theft occurs and the villagers accuse Saffy of the
crime. Hans defends Saffy testifying that they were together when the
theft occurred. This creates a scandal and causes the mayor throw Hans
out but the boy then joins the gypsies and leaves the village.
"Wenn Die Abendglocken Läuten" is a late silent German film recently
discovered, directed by Herr Hans Beck-Gaden in the silent year of
1930. It was filmed in the beautiful and idyllic landscapes of
Oberstdorf and Kleinwalsertal, but underneath the bucolic appearance
is
an undercurrent of conservative and patriotic values, an implicit
nationalism and the exaltation of the virtues of the "Heimat"; that is
to say, the German strong feeling of identity, belonging, the
homeland.
And that happens during the first scenes of the film when that
exaltation of the values of the "Heimat", the safety of home, is
openly
shown, and the oeuvre ends on the same note after our hero Hans, has
returned to the village after being seduced by the wicked and foreign
charms of the gypsy Saffy. Although Hans und Michel shows some
curiosity in Saffy who brings a bit of exoticism into their lives,
it's
very clear that the villagers have no use for the gypsies and are
quick
to give in to their prejudices and expel the visitors. We have here a
Teutonic population with rigid convictions and adhering to typical
customs in accordance with the mountains landscape; healthy youngsters
and conservative elders who are always dressed up properly in contrast
to the chaotic and carefree gypsies.
On the other hand, the film is not openly racist but it is evident,
although in a subtle way, that it comparing the two ways of life and
cultures and saying that social conflict is inevitable given the rules
and traditions of the gypsies.
During the late 20's, the number of films that praised conservative
values and precepts in combination with idyllic mountain settings,
increased slightly, and of course it is not necessary to say that this
all led to the extreme and ultra patriotic films of the 30's. "Wenn
Die
Abendglocken Läuten", is innocent by comparison and it would take the
coming of sound to fully develop this German sub-genre.
"Wenn Die Abendglocken Läuten" is film that has many characteristics
of
the, alas , insubstantial films produced in Germany at the end of the
silent era and is relatively harmless in its use of "Heimat" patriotic
precepts and is in the German mountain films tradition. Because it is,
thank Gott, a silent film the producers were not tempted to turn it
into an "operetta", sparing the audience hearing any of those typical
Teutonic songs.
And now, if you'll allow me, I must temporarily take my leave because
this German Count must explain to one of his Teutonic heiress the
virtues of this Teutonic aristocrat.
Herr Graf Ferdinand Von Galitzien
http://ferdinandvongalitzien.blogspot.com/
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