Immensee (film)

Immensee ein deutsches Volkslied Immensee A German Folksong is a German film melodrama of the Nazi era, directed in 1943 by Veit Harlan and loosely based on the popular novella Immensee 1849 by Theodor Storm. It was a commercial success and, with its theme of a woman remaining faithful to her husband, was important in raising the morale of German forces it remained popular after World War II.

The film is loosely based on Theodor Storms novella of the same title. The scene where Elisabeth finds a woman in Reinhardts bed had been omitted from the novella on the advice of friends of the author, and two thirds of the novella takes place in Elisabeth and Reinhardts childhood instead of using child actors, Harlan chose to cut these scenes and artificially age the two lovers for different stages of their lives from aboutto 45 for Elisabeth. Both Sderbaum and Raddatz wereat the time of filming. Despite being subtitled Ein deutsches Volkslied a German folksong, the film also omits a conversation about folksongs which is important in the novella, in which Erich is dismissive but Reinhardt expounds a German Romanticist view entirely in accord with National Socialism, that Folksongs are not made at all they grow, they fall out of the sky and refers to a melody sung by a shepherd as Urtne ancient tones which sleep on forest floors God knows who found them.The character of Elisabeth is presented as a model of German fidelity and the sanctity of marriage, and also of sacrifice, as often in Nazi images of women. As a secondary thematic focus common in many Nazi films, the film contrasts country life and rootedness with internationality and urban sophistication, to the detriment of the latter. The Illustrierte FilmKurier summarised Elisabeth stays at home, deeply rooted and always strong in the homely countryside, which her whole heart is attached to Reinhardt is pulled away by music and the world. After Elisabeth finds a girl in Reinhardts bed, his landlady explains, These are artists. . . they are more liberal in these matters. After an affair with an opera singer in Rome, Reinhardt realises that he really loves Elisabethwho in this instance represents his homeland, Germany. Conversely Erich represents the homeland for Elisabeth. At one point Elisabeth is shown swimming naked in the lake, portraying healthy outdoor life.

Source: Wikipedia