Under The Bridges - A German Film By Helmut Kautner

Would you give up everything you have for a girl? Yes, 50% of the world comprises stupids. The other 50% are women. Just try telling that to Willi.

The Hyderabad Film Club, in association with Goethe Zenthrum Hyderabad, is presenting a festival of German Films directed by Helmut Kautner, at Sarathi Studio and the Goethe premises, from 18th to 24th September. As part of the festival, "Under The Bridges" is being screened today at 6:30 PM at Sarathi Studios.

Hendrik and Willi are the owners and crew of a canal barge. They travel up and down the Havel River, have girlfriends here and there, and dream of a solid life.

One evening they observe a young girl Anna, about to jump off a bridge. They both run to save her, but are disappointed to find out that she only threw a ten mark note into the river in hopes of ridding herself of a bad memory.

Anna is persuaded to travel back to Berlin as a passenger with them, and the two friends soon fall in love with her. After an insulting comment from Willi, Anna leaves the boat, and the two men make an agreement with one another: whoever wins Anna back must forfeit his claim to the barge. Feeling sure of himself, Willi goes on land to look after her...

Helmut Kaeutner was born in 1908 in Duesseldorf and died in 1980 in Italy. He studied German, Art History, Philosophy, Psychology and Theater Studies. He began his film career as a scriptwriter. His directorial debut was with the film Kitty and the World Conference (Kitty Und Die Weltkonferenz, 1939), but the film was withdrawn by the Nazi government due to its pro-English leanings.

Later on, he went on to make great films like Kleider Machen Leute (1940), Auf Wiedersehen Franziska! (1941), Anuschka (1942), Grosse Freiheit Nr. 7 (1944), In Jenen Tagen (1947), Des Teufels General (1955), Zu Jung (1958) and Die Feuerzangenbowle (1970), among others.

His film Dis Letzte Bruecke won a German Film Award in 1954, and Der Hauptmann von Koepenik won two German Film Awards in 1957.

Please contact Bh S S Prakash Reddy, Secretary of the Hyderabad Film Club, at 93910-20243, or Goethe-Zenthrum at 5552-6443/2324-1791 for further details.