Semmelweis - savior of mothers

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Movie
Original title Semmelweis - savior of mothers
Country of production Germany
original language German
Publishing year 1950
length 85 (abridged version FRG) (DEFA version GDR)
99 minutes
Age rating FSK 16
Rod
Director Georg C. Klaren
script Joachim Barckhausen
Alexander Graf Stenbock-Fermor
Elfriede Brüning (design)
Marieluise Steinhauer (dramaturgy)
production Kurt Hahne for DEFA
music Herbert Trantow
camera Eugen Klagemann
cut Lena Neumann
occupation

Semmelweis - Retter der Mütter is a German feature film from 1950 directed by Georg C. Klaren . The Federal Republican titles were Dr. Semmelweis - savior of mothers and the hour of decision .

action

1846 kills more than a third of the Vienna Gebärklinik consigned have recently given birth on puerperal fever . The Viennese doctor Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis , who has taken over the management of the clinic, does not want to accept this. Those responsible he confronts with the high mortality rate only shrug their shoulders.

During his efforts to find the cause of the high mortality rate, Semmelweis uncovered an astonishing fact. Inadequately cleaned hands after the doctors' anatomy work transfer the corpse poison to the women who have recently given birth. This has proven that puerperal fever is a regular blood poisoning . As a countermeasure, Semmelweis then introduced chlorinated lime washes for anyone who comes into contact with one of the women on the ward. As a result, the death rate from puerperal fever drops significantly. Semmelweis has to fight hard against the ignorance of his fellow doctors, who regard it as a loss of prestige to have to admit that a negligence on the part of doctors themselves caused the death of their patients.

The numerous opponents of his theory gain the upper hand when they see a way to get rid of the uncomfortable admonisher. With reference to the fact that Semmelweis had sided with the revolutionaries in the revolutionary year of 1848 , he was removed from his post, which at the same time deprived him of the opportunity to further disseminate his knowledge and to exert pressure on his opponents by mobilizing the public. Semmelweis now sees no other way than to go to Budapest and set up a maternity clinic there according to his ideas. However, it burdens him that he cannot help so many other women because he is not allowed to publish his findings and thus make them accessible to everyone.

Although he was infected during an operation he performed and is now terminally ill, Semmelweis still goes to the medical congress in Vienna and wants to give a lecture there. His Viennese friends had fought for this right for so long. Before he can finish his lecture, he collapses at the desk and is taken to the hospital. Two days later he dies of the disease he had fought all his life.

After his death, his medical teaching prevailed, underpinned by the bacteriological findings of Louis Pasteur and Robert Koch .

criticism

The lexicon of international films judged: "A handsome and discreetly designed film biography which shows an unmistakable humanitarian-socialist tendency in its portrayal of the reactionary society of Vienna and the March revolution of 1848". The film deals freely with facts from the life of Semmelweis - especially with the circumstances of his death .

background

The film was dedicated to the German Academy of Sciences in Berlin on the occasion of its 250th anniversary. It was created in the Babelsberg studio with exterior shots from Babelsberg and the surrounding area.

The first screening of the film in the Federal Republic of Germany and in the GDR took place on June 2, 1950; on February 18, 1954, the film was shown for the first time in DFF 1. The film was released in Austria on September 22, 1950. In the GDR it was called Semmelweis - Savior of Mothers , in West Germany it was also called Dr. Semmelweis - savior of mothers , another title was the hour of the decision .

The buildings were designed by Emil Hasler , Walter Schulze-Mittendorff was responsible for the costumes.

The state of North Rhine-Westphalia gave the film the title of “artistically superior”. He also took part in the Fifth Karlovy Vary International Film Festival .

Historical background: Ignaz Philipp Semmelweis (1818–1865) was a Hungarian doctor in what was then Austria-Hungary . He was convinced that the cause of puerperal fever was due to poor hygiene among doctors and hospital staff, and he introduced hygiene regulations. His study from 1847/1848 is today considered the first practical case of evidence-based medicine in Austria. During his lifetime, his findings were not recognized and were rejected as “speculative nonsense”, especially by critics and colleagues with a positive attitude. Few doctors supported him, as hygiene was viewed as a waste of time and inconsistent with the theories about the causes of disease then prevailing. Semmelweis practiced partly in Hungary and died after his return to Vienna mentally deranged. Posthumously he was given the honorary title “Savior of Mothers” by the people.

Awards

The state of North Rhine-Westphalia awarded the film the title "artistically high". It was also shown at the 5th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.

reception

There are various other films about Semmelsweis' life:

  • That Mothers Might Live is a 1938 American short film based on the short biography of doctor Dr. Semmelweis (1818–1865) contains.
  • Semmelweis , Hungary 1940: Mester Film (Directed by André De Toth )
  • Ignaz Semmelweis - Doctor Women , Germany / Austria 1987: ZDF / ORF (Directed by Michael Verhoeven played Heiner Lauterbach the role of Ignaz Semmelweis).
  • Semmelweis , Netherlands 1994: Humanist Omroep Stichting (Floor Maas director)
  • Docteur Semmelweis , France / Poland 1995 (directed by Roger Andrieux)
  • Semmelweis (short film), USA / Austria 2001: Belvedere Film (Direction Jim Berry)

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Semmelweis - Savior of Mothers. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed March 2, 2017 .Template: LdiF / Maintenance / Access used 
  2. ^ Alfred Bauer : German feature film Almanach. Volume 2: 1946-1955 , p. 152
  3. ↑ Semmelweis - Savior of Mothers at filmportal.de
  4. ↑ Ignaz Semmelweis at Who's Who.de