Unterm Birnbaum

Unterm Birnbaum

1973 · 90 min · ★ 6.3 · Crime, Drama

Abel Hradscheck, the owner of an inn in the Oderbruch country, faces financial ruin. For this state of affairs, Ursula, his wife and former actress, is by no means free of blame. She is a "newcomer" to the area and even after eleven years in the area, still a "stranger". A Cracow company announces that a money-collector is on his way to the innkeeper. Mr. Szulski arrives and the debts are settled - with money supposedly stemming from an inheritance. The next day, Szulski departs but according to the maid and the stable-boy, behaves in a very strange manner. Soon afterwards, his carriage is discovered in the Oder River, but there is no trace of the drowned man. Hradscheck's neighbor starts casting suspicion on the innkeeper. The Counselor of Justice, who heads the investigations has the spot under the pear tree dug out. A dead body is exhumed...

Directed by Ralf Kirsten · Written by Ralf Kirsten

Your Rating

Cast

Make it a double feature

2h 27m together

Unterm Birnbaum

The Lost Angel

Both from Ralf Kirsten.

More from Ralf KirstenSee all →

Ich zwing dich zu lebenIch zwing dich zu leben · 1978
Ich zwing dich zu leben
10.01978
MovieDrama
Germany at the end of World War II: Teacher Grübler lives in a small village in the Ore Mountains together with his 15-year old son Wolfgang. At school, the dutiful Grübler, a member of the NSDAP, teaches his pupils to volunteer for military service, but when his own son volunteers for the Waffen SS, he is nevertheless shocked and fears for his boy′s life. But Wolfgang starts to hate his father for his doubts: He thinks his father is a coward. In his desperation, Grübler chains and kidnaps his son to hide him in a dugout in the forest until the end of the war. In their shelter, father and son are fighting bitterly but when the Nazis who still believe in the "Endsieg" discover their hideout, Grübler sacrifices his life to save Wolfgang.
Zwei Briefe an PospischielZwei Briefe an Pospischiel · 1970
Zwei Briefe an Pospischiel
10.01970
MovieDrama
Paul Pospischiel loses his job in the great colliery collapse in the Ruhr, retrains and builds a new life for himself. One day, he receives a letter from his mother, which tears him from his comfort zone and triggers a serious conflict. She has discovered the man who sent his father to a concentration camp decades ago and is therefore responsible for his death. The mother demands accountability from this man. Paul decides to confront the suspected informer and murderer...
Eine Pyramide für michEine Pyramide für mich · 1975
Eine Pyramide für mich
10.01975
MovieDrama
A conference is to be held once again to discuss the construction of a new dam, which Professor Paul Satie rejects. During a train journey, he spontaneously leaves the train. Here in Wolfsgrün, from 1948 to 1950, he helped build the old, now far too small dam as a youth brigadier. He and the others who helped build it have erected a monument to this. A monument with his name on it. Is that perhaps why he is against the new dam?
SteinzeitballadeSteinzeitballade · 1961
Steinzeitballade
9.01961
MovieDrama
Where Others Keep SilentWhere Others Keep Silent · 1984
Where Others Keep Silent
8.01984
MovieDrama
Ten days in the life of socialist politician Clara Zetkin. In August 1932, she is summoned from Archangelskoje near Moskow to open the new legislative session because at seventy-five, she is the oldest representative in the German Reichstag. Although she is ill and almost blind, she see this as her chance to make her voice heard amid the growing Nazi influence in Germany.
NetzwerkNetzwerk · 1970
Netzwerk
8.01970
MovieDrama
The writer Schaffrath enters the office of Dr. Hans Kahler, a graduate engineer, and asks if he may look around the facility, as he intends to write a report on the workers in the new section of an oil refinery.
Meetings In The DarkMeetings In The Dark · 1960
Meetings In The Dark
8.01960
MovieDrama
A pianist from Poland visits a town in West Germany and starts to remember details about her life during the war.
Skimeister von MorgenSkimeister von Morgen · 1957
Skimeister von Morgen
8.01957
MovieDramaFamily
The Lost AngelThe Lost Angel · 1971
The Lost Angel
7.21971
MovieDramaHistory
August 24, 1937: a day in the life of expressionist sculptor and author Ernst Barlach (Fred Düren). Barlach lives in the small town of Güstrow, keeping to himself and wanting to steer clear of politics. On this day he learns that the Nazis have dragged his famous 1927 sculpture The Hovering Angel out of the Güstrow Cathedral. Barlach begins to reflect on his life of “inner emigration” and on his work.
On the Sunny SideOn the Sunny Side · 1962
On the Sunny Side
7.01962
MovieMusicComedy
The story of the steel melter Martin Hoff, whose factory delegates him to a drama school, corresponds to the real life of the actor Manfred Krug. Like his (film) hero, Krug works as a steel melter, does artwork, sings and acts, and is sent to drama school. Like his hero, who behaves anarchically and conspicuously, Krug is soon expelled from school.
Bahrenburg StoriesBahrenburg Stories · 1957
Bahrenburg Stories
7.01957
MovieFamily
A story about a group of children in German town of Bahrenburg who are trying to build themselves a swimming pool.
Lachtauben weinen nichtLachtauben weinen nicht · 1979
Lachtauben weinen nicht
7.01979
MovieDrama
The film tells the story of the smelter brigade of a steel mill whose members are connected by a strong comradeship. Among the workers are, for instance, young Rolf, whom everybody just calls "Lachtaube" and who always comes through for his co-workers, or the likable Hubert, who works as a simple smelter again after being dismissed as the head of the steel mill. Then, there is also the stubborn Manfred, who should have become a brigadier long ago because of his experience and his competence, but this privilege is refused to him because Manfred is not a party member. Ironically, it is Manfred who hears by accident about the plans of the mill to close down the old Martin furnaces – and to lay off the smelters. When the other men learn about the plans they enter the barricades for their jobs and force the plant′s management to face the workers′ demands and criticism.
Chronicle of a SummerChronicle of a Summer · 1963
Chronicle of a Summer
6.81963
MovieRomanceDrama
In the late fifties a large industrial complex was built near Schwedt, in the GDR. This low budget film tells about the voluntary participation of the brigades of the Freie Deutsche Jugend in the building up …
Mir nach, CanaillenMir nach, Canaillen · 1964
Mir nach, Canaillen
6.61964
MovieAdventureComedy
A wild story set in eighteenth-century Prussia. Alexander can do everything that a real devil of a fellow must be able to do: ride, shoot, love and devise clever plots. As a result, he is able to climb the ladder from herder to chamber master, where he makes a fool of the feudal lords.
Frau Venus und ihr TeufelFrau Venus und ihr Teufel · 1967
Frau Venus und ihr Teufel
6.51967
MovieMusicComedy
Hans Müller finds himself on a trip in Thüringen, accompanied by his loving female friend, Moritz. Hans doesn't understand much about trust, which constantly leads to problems between the two of them. During one of their fights, Lady Venus intervenes and sends the young man back to the Middle Ages - so he can learn the true meaning of love. Disguised as Tannhäuser, he has to stand his ground against a horde of minstrels. At a singing competition, he blunders, without the support of Moritz, who had also been thrown back into the 13th century. And with the help of Frau Venus, his adventure will surely turn out even worse...
Käthe Kollwitz – Pictures of a LifeKäthe Kollwitz – Pictures of a Life · 1987
Käthe Kollwitz – Pictures of a Life
5.51987
MovieHistoryDrama
Kathe Kollwitz was 47 years old, and already a well established artist in Germany and abroad when Peter, her youngest son, volunteered to join the German army in WWI and was killed two weeks later. This painful tragedy changed Kollwitz's life and art forever.

More Like This

Le DivorceLe Divorce · 2003
Le Divorce
5.02003
MovieDramaRomance
While visiting her sister in Paris, a young woman finds romance and learns her brother-in-law is a philanderer.
An Autumn TaleAn Autumn Tale · 1998
An Autumn Tale
7.11998
MovieDramaRomance
Magali, forty-something, is a winemaker and a widow: she loves her work but feels lonely. Her friends Rosine and Isabelle both want secretly to find a husband for Magali.
ViridianaViridiana · 1962
Viridiana
7.71962
MovieDrama
Viridiana is preparing to start her life as a nun when she is sent, somewhat unwillingly, to visit her aging uncle, Don Jaime. He supports her; but the two have met only once. Jaime thinks Viridiana resembles his dead wife. Viridiana has secretly despised this man all her life and finds her worst fears proven when Jaime grows determined to seduce his pure niece. Viridiana becomes undone as her uncle upends the plans she had made to join the convent.
SidewaysSideways · 2004
Sideways
7.12004
MovieComedyDrama
Two middle-aged men embark on a spiritual journey through Californian wine country. One is an unpublished novelist suffering from depression, and the other is only days away from walking down the aisle.
A Good YearA Good Year · 2006
A Good Year
6.72006
MovieComedyDrama
Failed London banker Max Skinner inherits his uncle's vineyard in Provence, where he spent many childhood holidays. Upon his arrival, he meets a woman from California who tells Max she is his long-lost cousin and that the property is hers.
The Astronaut FarmerThe Astronaut Farmer · 2007
The Astronaut Farmer
6.32007
MovieScience FictionAdventure
Texan Charles Farmer left the Air Force as a young man to save the family ranch when his dad died. Like most American ranchers, he owes his bank. Unlike most, he's an astrophysicist with a rocket in his barn - one he's built and wants to take into space. It's his dream. The FBI puts him under surveillance when he tries to buy rocket fuel, and the FAA stalls him when he files a flight plan – but Charles is undeterred.
Bottle ShockBottle Shock · 2008
Bottle Shock
6.42008
MovieComedyDrama
Paris-based wine expert Steven Spurrier heads to California in search of cheap wine that he can use for a blind taste test in the French capital. Stumbling upon the Napa Valley, the stuck-up Englishman is shocked to discover a winery turning out top-notch chardonnay. Determined to make a name for himself, he sets about getting the booze back to Paris.
DoubtDoubt · 2008
Doubt
7.22008
MovieDrama
In 1964 Bronx, two Catholic school nuns question the new priest's ambiguous relationship with a troubled African-American student.
The Last SupperThe Last Supper · 1995
The Last Supper
6.51995
MovieComedyThriller
A group of idealistic but frustrated liberals succumb to the temptation of murdering right-wing pundits for their political beliefs.
Everlasting MomentsEverlasting Moments · 2008
Everlasting Moments
7.32008
MovieDramaHistory
In a time of social change and unrest, war and poverty, a young working class woman, Maria, wins a camera in a lottery. The decision to keep it alters her whole life.
Solitary ManSolitary Man · 2009
Solitary Man
5.92009
MovieComedyDrama
A car magnate watches his personal and professional life hit the skids because of his business and romantic indiscretions.

Rate this film

Your ratings make Midnight smarter