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Opfergang

  • 19441944
  • 1h 38m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
627
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Kristina Söderbaum in Opfergang (1944)
  • Drama
Idle intellectuals Albrecht, Octavia and Äls, are given to quoting and emulating their philosopher hero, Nietzsche. Albrecht later contracts typhus bringing the foster child gravely ill Äls ... Read allIdle intellectuals Albrecht, Octavia and Äls, are given to quoting and emulating their philosopher hero, Nietzsche. Albrecht later contracts typhus bringing the foster child gravely ill Äls out of an infected area.Idle intellectuals Albrecht, Octavia and Äls, are given to quoting and emulating their philosopher hero, Nietzsche. Albrecht later contracts typhus bringing the foster child gravely ill Äls out of an infected area.
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
627
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Veit Harlan
  • Writers
    • Rudolf G. Binding(novel)
    • Alfred Braun
    • Veit Harlan
  • Stars
    • Carl Raddatz
    • Kristina Söderbaum
    • Irene von Meyendorff
Top credits
  • Director
    • Veit Harlan
  • Writers
    • Rudolf G. Binding(novel)
    • Alfred Braun
    • Veit Harlan
  • Stars
    • Carl Raddatz
    • Kristina Söderbaum
    • Irene von Meyendorff
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 7User reviews
    • 7Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos18

    Kristina Söderbaum in Opfergang (1944)
    Irene von Meyendorff in Opfergang (1944)
    Opfergang (1944)
    Opfergang (1944)
    Carl Raddatz and Irene von Meyendorff in Opfergang (1944)
    Opfergang (1944)
    Kristina Söderbaum in Opfergang (1944)
    Franz Schafheitlin and Irene von Meyendorff in Opfergang (1944)
    Kristina Söderbaum in Opfergang (1944)
    Opfergang (1944)
    Carl Raddatz in Opfergang (1944)
    Carl Raddatz and Irene von Meyendorff in Opfergang (1944)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Carl Raddatz
    Carl Raddatz
    • Albrecht Frobenas Albrecht Froben
    Kristina Söderbaum
    Kristina Söderbaum
    • Äls Flodéenas Äls Flodéen
    Irene von Meyendorff
    Irene von Meyendorff
    • Octavia Frobenas Octavia Froben
    Franz Schafheitlin
    • Matthiasas Matthias
    Ernst Stahl-Nachbaur
    • Sanitätsrat Terbovenas Sanitätsrat Terboven
    Otto Treßler
    • Senator Frobenas Senator Froben
    Annemarie Steinsieck
    • Frau Frobenas Frau Froben
    Edgar Pauly
    • Servantas Servant
    Charlotte Schultz
    • Nurseas Nurse
    Ludwig Schmitz
    • Büttenredneras Büttenredner
    Frida Richard
    • Frau Steinkampas Frau Steinkamp
    Paul Bildt
    Paul Bildt
    • Notaras Notar
    F.W. Schröder-Schrom
    F.W. Schröder-Schrom
      • Director
        • Veit Harlan
      • Writers
        • Rudolf G. Binding(novel)
        • Alfred Braun
        • Veit Harlan
      • All cast & crew
      • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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      Storyline

      Edit
      Albrecht is a son in a family of wealthy intellectuals that has a seaside estate near Hamburg. In early adulthood, when he returns from his around the world trip, he is expected to settle down and marry the beautiful Octavia. One day while rowing alone, Albrecht meets the similarly ravishing Äls, a Finnish woman who migrates to Germany annually for her medical treatment, as she is probably terminally ill. It turns out they live near each other, and subsequently both go horse riding together often. Albrecht becomes very friendly with Äls, and Äls begins to love Albrecht. Albrecht marries Octavia and the married couple move from Hamburg to Düsseldorf. The Düsseldorf lifestyle or society does not agree with Octavia and so they move back to another estate near Hamburg, and very near Octavia. Over time Äls' health slowly deteriorates and Albrecht visits her estate's front gate each day on horseback, where Äls can see Albrecht through the window from her sickbed. An outbreak of Typhoid occurs in a poor quarter of Hamburg (Dovenfleet) and Äls is too sick to collect her 5 year old foster daughter who is living in Dovenfleet and in danger of the contagion. Albrecht ventures into the infected area to bring out the daughter, and in the process catches typhoid himself, but the daughter is safe. Albrecht is confined to a quarantine ward in a hospital, where he is treated by the same medical specialist handling Äls. Both Albrecht and Äls are now in danger of dying from their respective illnesses. Octavia realises how Äls feels about her husband Albrecht (i.e. Äls is the other woman). She starts dressing as her sick bed-ridden husband and riding her husband's horse to Äls' front gate each day, rain or shine, so that Äls may think she is seeing Albrecht, and lift Äls' spirits in the hope that Äls pulls through. —Donald Bruce Telfer
      • germany
      • hamburg germany
      • upper class
      • married couple
      • sailing
      • 45 more
      • Plot summary
      • Add synopsis
      • Genre
        • Drama
      • Parents guide
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      Did you know

      Edit
      • Trivia
        The controversial Slovenian cultural theorist, philosopher and film buff Slavoj Zizek claims that Opfergang is one of the three best films ever made, the other two being The Fountainhead (USA 1949) and Ivan The Terrible (USSR 1944).
      • Connections
        Featured in Münchhausen - Ein Mythos in Agfacolor (2005)

      User reviews7

      Review
      Top review
      Transcendent film art
      I have just left a screening of Veit Harlan's film 'Opfergang' ('The Great Sacrifice'). It was shown as part of a film class on German cinema. I've loved film since a very young age, but, shamefully, had never have even have heard of Harlan. Let alone seen any of his pictures. Purely on the basis of this work alone, I would say that his name should be up there with fellow countrymen (and woman) Murnau, Lang and Riefenstahl. One of THE greats of German, nay WORLD cinema. It seems that his remarkable talent has been somewhat eclipsed by his association with Nazi propaganda flicks, and unlike the extraordinary Riefenstahl, his reputation never managed to transcend this.

      The film is astonishingly beautiful and moving in a poetically strange way. It's one of those rare films that has an atmosphere that is completely unique and totally mesmeric. An obsessive, intensely personal quality that is magical. I will not attempt to provide a plot synopsis or dally with subtext. I merely urge you to see it however you can. As it seems to be unavailable in almost any media this could prove extremely difficult. It appears that I was incredibly fortunate to see it at all, let alone in a good print on a big screen.

      An amazing work of art that, like all real art, has enriched me and changed me in some way.

      Before you do anything else, hunt this down and see it NOW.
      helpful•29
      13
      • LewisJForce
      • Apr 23, 2004

      Details

      Edit
      • Release date
        • 1954 (West Germany)
      • Country of origin
        • Germany
      • Languages
        • German
        • Swedish
      • Also known as
        • The Great Sacrifice
      • Filming locations
        • Hiddensee, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany
      • Production company
        • Universum Film (UFA)
      • See more company credits at IMDbPro

      Technical specs

      Edit
      • Runtime
        1 hour 38 minutes
      • Sound mix
        • Mono
      • Aspect ratio
        • 1.37 : 1

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