The Unprecedented Defence of the Fortress Deutschkreuz
Encyclopedia
The Unprecedented Defence of the Fortress Deutschkreuz is a 1966 short film by Werner Herzog
filmed in Deutschkreuz, Austria
. Herzog's official website describes the film as "A satire on the state of war and peace and the absurdities it inspires."
In the film, four men break into an abandoned castle that was the site of a battle between the Russians and Germans during World War II
. The men find old military uniforms and equipment, and equip themselves for a defense of the castle. They see farmers approaching the castle, but are disappointed when they fail to attack. The film ends with the four men, armed, storming out of the castle's front gates. The film's actors have no dialogue- the only spoken text is delivered by a narrator, who discusses his thoughts on war and various other subjects.
). The four actors got something, but the basic expenses were for the raw stock and the lab fees. It is a short film about a group of young men protecting an abandoned castle from imaginary attackers. It is the same kind of theme that I worked with in Signs of Life
a few years later. People think they are being besieged, yet there is actually no enemy and they are left in the lurch."
Werner Herzog
Werner Herzog Stipetić , known as Werner Herzog, is a German film director, producer, screenwriter, actor, and opera director.He is often considered as one of the greatest figures of the New German Cinema, along with Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Margarethe von Trotta, Volker Schlöndorff, Werner...
filmed in Deutschkreuz, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
. Herzog's official website describes the film as "A satire on the state of war and peace and the absurdities it inspires."
In the film, four men break into an abandoned castle that was the site of a battle between the Russians and Germans during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The men find old military uniforms and equipment, and equip themselves for a defense of the castle. They see farmers approaching the castle, but are disappointed when they fail to attack. The film ends with the four men, armed, storming out of the castle's front gates. The film's actors have no dialogue- the only spoken text is delivered by a narrator, who discusses his thoughts on war and various other subjects.
Director's Thoughts
"...My next film, also shot in 35 mm, was The Unprecedented Defence of the Fortress Deutschkreuz which was financed by the money I got from the screenplay award (for Signs of LifeSigns of Life (1968 film)
Signs of Life is a 1968 feature film written, directed, and produced by Werner Herzog. It was his first feature film, and his first major commercial and critical success...
). The four actors got something, but the basic expenses were for the raw stock and the lab fees. It is a short film about a group of young men protecting an abandoned castle from imaginary attackers. It is the same kind of theme that I worked with in Signs of Life
Signs of Life (1968 film)
Signs of Life is a 1968 feature film written, directed, and produced by Werner Herzog. It was his first feature film, and his first major commercial and critical success...
a few years later. People think they are being besieged, yet there is actually no enemy and they are left in the lurch."