East German peasants said 'nah' to feudalism in 1975. Revolutionary cinema, literally.
The story of the Grünthal peasants' uprising against the commander who oppresses and exploits them.
Acting
Rolf Hoppe commands every frame; villainous charisma you love to hate.
Production
DEFA's period detail on a shoestring — mud, misery, and authentic desperation.
Director
Thomas Kuschel
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
DEFA studios used historical peasant revolts to critique Western capitalism while staying censor-friendly — sneaky subversion in socialist drag.
The Grünthal uprising was real (1563), but Kuschel shot near the actual locations, blending documentary footage with staged rebellion for eerie authenticity.
XG
