Effi Briest
Following her parents' wishes, spirited seventeen-year-old Effi Briest marries Baron von Innstetten – a former admirer of her mother – who is twenty years Effi's senior. This marriage of prudence heralds the beginning of a humdrum life, far from home, for Effi. Innstetten devotes himself entirely to his political career, and the sleepy small town of Kessin has very little to offer in terms of variety. But then, one day, Innstetten's old regimental comrade, Major Crampas – a charming womanizer – arrives on the scene. Effi begins a passionate affair with him and, for the first time, discovers the meaning of love. Years later, when Baron Innstetten hears of their now bygone affair, he challenges Major Crampas to a duel: "I love my wife. Yes, it may seem strange, but I still love her. – But if you hold true to such things and tell me that you love this wife so much that you can forgive everything, I must ask you: do we have to go through with this? – In spite of this, we must. We are not mere individuals. We belong to the whole. And it is our duty to defer to the whole." Crampas dies in the duel. In a departure from Fontane's version, Effi decides that the only thing to do is to begin a new life …
Published in 1895, Theodor Fontane's marvellous tale of love and adultery was to mark his breakthrough as a novelist. In her screen adaptation, director Hermine Huntgeburth reinterprets this classic work for a modern audience. "Effi Briest" refracts the charm of a period drama through a modern consciousness in order to depict a young woman′s bid for emancipation.
Source: 59. Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin (Catalogue)
Credits
Director
Screenplay
Director of photography
Editing
Cast
- Effi von Briest
- Geert von Instetten
- Major von Crampas
- Johanna
- Roswitha
- Herr Gieshübler
- Mutter Luise von Briest
- Herr von Briest
- Wüllersdorf
- Diener Wilke
Production company
Producer
Alle Credits
Director
Assistant director
Script supervisor
Screenplay
based on
Director of photography
Assistant camera
2nd Camera unit
Steadycam operator
Still photography
Lighting design
Key grip
Production design
Art director
Set design
Property master
Stand-by props
Construction manager
Make-up artist
Costume design
Editing
Assistant editor
Sound
Sound assistant
Audio mixing
Stunt co-ordinator
Casting
Cast
- Effi von Briest
- Geert von Instetten
- Major von Crampas
- Johanna
- Roswitha
- Herr Gieshübler
- Mutter Luise von Briest
- Herr von Briest
- Wüllersdorf
- Diener Wilke
- Hulda
- Dagobert von Briest
- Frau von Crampas
- Sidonie von Rasenapp
- Paukas
- Frau Niemeyer
- Officer
Production company
Producer
Executive producer
Line producer
Unit production manager
Location manager
Production coordinator
Original distributor
Shoot
- 18.09.2007 - 29.11.2007: Berlin und Umgebung, Polen, Lettland
FSK-Prüfung (DE): 27.11.2008, 116197, ab 12 Jahre / feiertagsfrei
Uraufführung (DE): 09.02.2009, Berlin, IFF - Berlinale Special;
Kinostart (DE): 12.02.2009
Titles
- Originaltitel (DE) Effi Briest
- Arbeitstitel (DE) Effi
Versions
Original
FSK-Prüfung (DE): 27.11.2008, 116197, ab 12 Jahre / feiertagsfrei
Uraufführung (DE): 09.02.2009, Berlin, IFF - Berlinale Special;
Kinostart (DE): 12.02.2009
Awards
- Prädikat: Besonders wertvoll