Albrecht, Octavia & Äls form a triangle from families of idle intellectuals, prone to Neitsche. Nature loving Äls is gravely ill. Further tragedy looms as Albrecht contracts typhoid bringing Äls’ foster child out of an infected area.
Opfergang (The Great Sacrifice or Rite of Sacrifice) is a 1944 German film directed by Veit Harlan.[1] It is based on Rudolf G. Binding's work of the same title, with alterations for propaganda purposes.[2] Unlike other Harlan films of the era, Opfergang does not include explicit Nazi messages, but instead features more subtle Nazi motifs and themes. The film was dubbed a "masterpiece" by Slovenian philosopher Slavoj Žižek in 2012.
Synopsis
Albrecht Froben, though married to Octavia, falls in love with his neighbor, Äls Flodéen. She, however, is slowly dying from a debilitating disease. During an epidemic, Albrecht goes to bring her daughter to safety but he catches typhoid and is quarantined in hospital. Octavia, realising the love match, and hearing that Äls is now bedridden and dying, dresses up as him and rides by her gates every day to keep her spirits up—her bed is next to the window. Albrecht returns. Äls has a dream in which she talks to her projection of Albrecht and concludes that she does not wish to take part in this union and accepts death. Albrecht is reconciled with his wife.
Brad Stevens (writer and producer) suggested that a scene in the 1999 film Eyes Wide Shut may have been inspired by a similar scene in Opfergang
Director: Veit Harlan
Writers: Rudolf G. Binding (novel) (as R.G. Binding), Alfred Braun, Veit Harlan, Hans Radtke.
Stars: Carl Raddatz, Kristina Söderbaum, Irene von Meyendorff, Franz Schafheitlin, Ernst Stahl-Nachbaur, Otto Treßler, Annemarie Steinsieck, Edgar Pauly, Charlotte Schultz, Ludwig Schmitz, Frida Richard, Paul Bildt, F.W. Schröder-Schrom.
Subs: English.
