The first polka

Movie
Original title	The first polka
Country of production	Germany
original language	German
Publishing year	1979
length	96 minutes
Age rating	FSK 12
Rod
Director	Klaus Emmerich
script	Helmut Krapp
production	Helmut Krapp
music	Edward Aniol
camera	Michael Ballhaus
cut	Johannes Nikel
occupation
Maria Schell : Valeska Piontek Erland Josephson : Leo Maria Piontek Guido Wieland : Mr. Monday Ernst Stankovski : Lawyer Wondrak Claus Theo Gärtner : Sergeant Metzmacher René Schell : Josef Piontek Marco Kröger : Andreas Miriam Geissler : Ulla Eva Maria Bauer : Aunt Lucie Jan Biczycki : Archpriest Pattas Regine Lamster : Irma

The first Polka is a German feature film based on the novel of the same name by Horst Bienek from 1979.

action

The film takes place in Gliwice on August 31 and September 1, 1939 . The Piontek family is preparing their daughter Irma's wedding party. While mother Valeska is organizing the party, father Leo is sick in bed. The family from Berlin are also guests . The 15-year-old son Josef Piontek shows off with his girlfriend Ulla at his cousin Andreas, but without realizing that Ulla has already fallen in love with Andreas. Although he still dances his first polka at the wedding with Ulla, he then has to accept that Andreas' chances are higher with Ulla. Ulla and Andreas disappear from the wedding and at night witnessed the staged attack on the Gleiwitz radio station , of the Second World War triggers. Father Leo dies at home that night and Josef watches as Sergeant Metzmacher tries to rape Ulla on her way home. Josef kills the drunken soldier and leaves the family. He flees to Berlin. Adolf Hitler makes his radio address: There has been a fire back since 5:45 a.m.

Reviews

• Lexicon of international films : The film about political irrationalism in the German provinces shows successful scenes, but fails when it comes to combining isolated aspects and allusions into a homogeneous and understandable whole.

Awards

The film took part in the competition at the Berlin International Film Festival in 1979 , but received nothing at the award ceremony.

Web links

• The first polka in the Internet Movie Database (English)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ The first polka. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed July 23, 2017 .