The Banner of Krivoy Rog
Encyclopedia
The Banner of Krivoy Rog (German
: Die Fahne von Kriwoj Rog) is an East German film, directed by Kurt Maetzig
. It was released in 1967.
before and during the Second World War: a man named Otto Brosowski had hidden a Red Banner he received from the miners in Krivoy Rog. The Banner itself was kept as a symbol of Soviet-German friendship. Maetzig's film was commissioned for the 50th anniversary of the October Revolution
.
.
Maetzig, writer Hans-Albert Pederzani, actors Erwin Geschonneck
and Marga Legal and cinematographer Erich Gusko were all awarded the National Prize
, 1st degree, on 3 October 1968. The film also won the Cinema Award of the magazine Junge Welt.
Heiko R. Blum wrote that "the pathetic style, the hollow words... cannot destroy the picturesque quality of this impressive film, which is modeled after the classical Soviet epics." The German Film Lexicon defined The Banner of Kriwoy Rog as "an fimpressive, historically insightful picture that conveys its propaganda in a humane manner."
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
: Die Fahne von Kriwoj Rog) is an East German film, directed by Kurt Maetzig
Kurt Maetzig
Kurt Maetzig is an East German film director who had a significant effect on the film industry in the GDR. He is one of the most respected filmmakers of East Germany. He currently lives in Wildkuhl, Mecklenburg, and has three children....
. It was released in 1967.
Plot
Otto Brosowski, a communist miner, writes to the miners in the Soviet city of Krivoy Rog, telling them of the harsh conditions in which he and his friends work, as the capitalist owners of the copper mine demand harder work. He receives a Red Banner from them. As the Nazis seize power, Otto and his family hide the flag from the authorities, taking great personal risks. At 1945, as the Second World War nears its end, the town is occupied by the Americans, who also wish to steel the Banner. At July 1945, as the Americans retreat and allow the Red Army to take over the area, the Brosowski family takes the flag and heads to meet the Soviets.Cast
- Erwin GeschonneckErwin GeschonneckErwin Geschonneck was a German actor. His biggest success occurred in the German Democratic Republic, where he was considered one of the most famous actors of the time.-Early life:...
: Otto Brosowski Senior - Marga Legal: Minna Brosowski
- Helmut Schellhardt: Otto Brosowski Junior
- Harry Hindemith: Zonkel
- Fred-Artur Geppert: Rüdiger
- Eva-Maria HagenEva-Maria HagenEva-Maria Hagen is a German actress and singer. She is the mother of Nina Hagen.-Selected filmography:-External links:...
: Elfriede - Manfred KrugManfred KrugManfred Krug is a German actor and singer.-Life and work:After moving to East Germany at the age of 13, Manfred Krug worked at a steel plant before beginning his acting career on the stage and, ultimately, in film...
: Jule Hammer - Jochen Thomas: Bode
- Kaspar Eichel: Walter
- Angela BrunnerAngela Brunner-Selected filmography:* Ernst Thälmann - Führer seiner Klasse * Junges Gemüse * Naked among Wolves * The Heathens of Kummerow * Die Fahne von Kriwoj Rog * Time of the Storks...
: Frau Bienert - Willi Neuenhahn: Mellendorf
- Martin Flörchinger: driver
- Alfred Müller: Niedermeyer
- Rolf Ripperger: Bubi von Alvensleben
- Ilse Voigt: Mrs. Bode
- Dieter Wien: Peters
- Rudolf UlrichRudolf UlrichRudolf Ulrich was a German film actor. He appeared in 67 films between 1954 and 1986.-Selected filmography:* Duped Till Doomsday * Brücke zwischen gestern und morgen * The Rabbit Is Me...
: Bienert - Horst KubeHorst Kube-Selected filmography:* Ernst Thälmann - Führer seiner Klasse * A Berlin Romance * Der Fackelträger * Schlösser und Katen * Don't Forget My Little Traudel * Zwei Mütter * The Sailor's Song...
: Bartel - Horst GieseHorst GieseHorst Fritz Otto Giese was an East German actor.-Biography:In 1945, Giese made his debut on stage at his native Neuruppin, then in the Soviet occupation zone. Later he appeared on television. His first role in a movie was at the 1954 Alarm in the Circus...
: Gestapo spy - Walter KaufmannWalter Kaufmann (author)Walter Kaufmann is a German writer.Walter Kaufmann was the adopted son of a Jewish lawyer in Germany. He grew up in Duisburg, where he attended Steinbart High School. Later, his adoptive parents were captured by the Nazis and were murdered in the infamous Auschwitz concentration camp...
: Lieutenant Stone - Harald Hauser: Colonel Wright
- Perry FriedmanPerry FriedmanPerry Friedman is an American professional poker player who won the 2002 World Series of Poker $1,500 Limit Omaha Hi-Low Split-8 or Better event, a founding member of the Tiltboys and is a Full Tilt Professional.- World Series of Poker :...
: American officer - Horst Schäfer: American interpreter
- Fred DelmareFred DelmareFred Delmare was a German actor.He was born in Hüttensteinach. He appeared in several films and television series, last in 70 episodes of In aller Freundschaft between 1998 and 2006. He died in May, 1 2009....
: Communist driver - Edwin Marian: Polish slave-laborer
- Erik Veldre: young worker
Production
The script of The Banner of Krivoy Rog was adapted from Otto Gotsche's popular novel by the same name, which was entered into the East German schools' curriculum. Gotsche's book was based on real events which took place in GerbstedtGerbstedt
Gerbstedt is a small town in Saxony-Anhalt, district Mansfeld-Südharz. By tradition it was the town of copper miners and tanners , which gave the name for the town.-Location:...
before and during the Second World War: a man named Otto Brosowski had hidden a Red Banner he received from the miners in Krivoy Rog. The Banner itself was kept as a symbol of Soviet-German friendship. Maetzig's film was commissioned for the 50th anniversary of the October Revolution
October Revolution
The October Revolution , also known as the Great October Socialist Revolution , Red October, the October Uprising or the Bolshevik Revolution, was a political revolution and a part of the Russian Revolution of 1917...
.
Reception
The film was viewed by 2,772,000 people in the two months from its release until the end of 1967, with 750,000 of them in the first two weeks; that figure also included those who saw it in mandatory screenings in collective farms and schools. It became the second most popular East German film of the year, after Chingachgook, the Great SnakeChingachgook, die große Schlange
Chingachgook, die große Schlange is an East German film. It was released in 1967....
.
Maetzig, writer Hans-Albert Pederzani, actors Erwin Geschonneck
Erwin Geschonneck
Erwin Geschonneck was a German actor. His biggest success occurred in the German Democratic Republic, where he was considered one of the most famous actors of the time.-Early life:...
and Marga Legal and cinematographer Erich Gusko were all awarded the National Prize
National Prize of East Germany
The National Prize of the German Democratic Republic was an award of the German Democratic Republic given out in three different classes for scientific, artistic, and other meritorious achievement...
, 1st degree, on 3 October 1968. The film also won the Cinema Award of the magazine Junge Welt.
Heiko R. Blum wrote that "the pathetic style, the hollow words... cannot destroy the picturesque quality of this impressive film, which is modeled after the classical Soviet epics." The German Film Lexicon defined The Banner of Kriwoy Rog as "an fimpressive, historically insightful picture that conveys its propaganda in a humane manner."
External links
- The Banner of Krivoy Rog original poster on ostfilm.de.
- The Banner of Krivoy Rog on filmportal.de.