The involuntary journeys of Moritz August Benjowski

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Movie
Original title The involuntary journeys of Moritz August Benjowski
Country of production Germany
France
Italy
original language German
Publishing year 1974
length approx. 360 minutes
Rod
Director Fritz Umgelter
script Helmut Pigge
music Hans Posegga
camera Gernot Roll
occupation

The involuntary journeys of Moritz August Benjowski is a biographical report in four parts by Helmut Pigge from 1974 based on the travel descriptions of Moritz August Benjowski .

action

Part 1: (ZDF: January 4, 1975) banishment

In 1767, the 26-year-old Moritz August Benjowski, scion of a Hungarian noble house, joined a freedom association of Polish nobles. These pursue the goal of driving out the Russian troops in their country. In 1768 the uprising breaks out. Benjowski proved himself in many skirmishes as a cavalry colonel, but was seriously injured, captured and brought to Kazan . From there he managed to escape to St. Petersburg with Major Wyndbladt , but when he tried to escape across the Baltic Sea, he fell into Russian hands again through betrayal.

In 1770, Benjowski and his companions - including a Swede - are on their way to Siberia . Your fate is completely uncertain.

Part 2: (ZDF: January 7, 1975) Conspiracy

On December 2, 1770, Benjowski and his five comrades arrived on the East Siberian peninsula of Kamchatka as exiles of Tsarina Catherine II . The reception is surprising: Captain Nilow, the fortress commander, eases the prisoners' lot as best he can.

The alcoholic, rough fortress commander Nilow takes a liking to the good manners, the cosmopolitanism and the foreign language skills of Benjowski. He therefore appoints him as head of house for his daughter.

Benjowski, who is still pursuing his escape plans here, becomes the focus of a conspiracy . When the attempt to break out is betrayed, a life-and-death struggle begins between Benjowski and his benefactor Nilow.

Part 3: (ZDF: January 14, 1975) Fight and Flight

Kamchatka, April 1771: Moritz August Benjowski was exiled to the Kamchatka peninsula for high treason . An uprising under his leadership is successful: the men hijack a Russian ship and flee. First they get caught in drift ice . Since Benjowski had seafaring experience, he was given the command. With extreme exertion, the men manage to steer into tropical zones.

On Formosa , Benjowski wins a tribal prince as a friend who enables the trip to Macau . The port on Formosa is renamed Moritzhafen.

Part 4: (ZDF: January 18, 1975) To new goals

In 1772, at the head of his companions from Siberian exile, Benjowski set foot on European soil in the French port of Lorient . In Paris , after four years of separation, he can hug his young wife Anna again. His four-year-old son, Moritz, greets his father.

But Benjowski can no longer stay in Europe, especially because he realizes that his commitment to freedom in Poland was in vain. Russia, Prussia and Austria have decided to partition the country.

Benjowski turns to new adventures: On behalf of the French King Louis XV. should he colonize the island of Madagascar . After the death of Louis XV. and the coronation of Louis XVI. the situation changes. Fierce battles with rival tribes and with insidious slave traders are almost fatal to Benjowski. But then the natives of Madagascar want to crown him their king. His fate does not always turn out for the better, so he may die. a. also his son Moritz from yellow fever .

In the credits it is reported: "This is where Moritz August Benjowski's notes end. 10 years later, on May 23, 1786, he was killed in action against French colonial troops".

Others

This four-part series can be counted among the adventure four-part series of ZDF , but is not listed in the relevant literature.

  • This “biographical report in four parts”, a joint production with French and Italian television, was created based on Benjowski's travelogues. Author Helmut Pigge wrote a. a. the scripts for " Operation Valkyrie ", "Like a tear in the ocean" and "Nobile - Seven Weeks on the Ice".

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