Wolz – Life and Illusion of a German Anarchist
(Wolz – Leben und Verklärung eines deutschen Anarchisten)
Wolz – Leben und Verklärung eines deutschen Anarchisten © DEFA-Stiftung, Norbert Kuhröber
| Reisch, Günter |
| Rücker, Günther |
| Beck, Werner |
| Weigel, Bärbel |
| Brauer, Jürgen |
| Adam, Dieter |
| Forchner, Ewald |
| Sasse, Karl-Ernst |
| Adomajtis, Regimantas |
| Berner, Erwin |
| Brunecker, Wolfgang |
| Gerberding, Erich |
| Hölzel, Peter |
| Kleinstück, Rainer |
| Lubšin, Stanislav |
| Panknin, Jörg |
| Wenzel, Heidemarie |
| DEFA Studio for Feature Films |
Synopsis
Soldier Ignaz Wolz returns from WWI with an immeasurable hatred of capitalist war profiteers. He decides to start his own revolution, but tries to stay away from the organized class struggle. He steals from the rich men and divides the wealth among the poor. One day, Wolz is arrested and sentenced to life in prison; seven years later he is released due to mass protests. More than ever, it is hard for him to fit in. He severs ties with his former companions, who reject his ideas, and leaves Germany.
A comedy based on the autobiography of the radical communist Max Hoelz (1889-1933).
Commentary
On January 31, 1974, the comedy Wolz - Life and Illusion of a German Anarchist premiered at the East Berlin Kosmos cinema theater.
Günther Rücker had worked on the script for this film since the 1960s, inspired by From White Cross to Red Flag (1929), the autobiography of Max Hoelz (1889-1933), also known as the Red Robin Hood. Officials accused Rücker of glorifying anarchism and the script was not accepted until the early 1970s. Once the project was approved, the film crew also considered teaming up with director Egon Günther (Her Third, The Sorrows of Young Werther) to produce the film in 70mm. But this idea was quickly dropped, along with dreams of casting West German actors Mario Adorf or Götz George or even Italian actor Franco Nero in the leading role. Eventually, the Lithuanian film and stage actor Regimantas Adomaitis (The Fiancée, 1980, dir. Günter Reisch, Günther Rücker) took on the part of Max Hoelz.
