At a French Fireside

At a French Fireside

  • Overview
  • Cast
  • Crew
  • Recommendations

Status

Released

Release Date

Sep 17, 1962

Runtime

1h 39m

Genres

Drama

User Score

85%

Original Title

An französischen Kaminen

Production Companies

DEFA

Director

Kurt Maetzig

Description

Bundeswehr soldier Klaus’ regiment is stationed in France, to take part in NATO maneuvers. The soldiers are ordered to be kind to the populace, since the West German High Command wishes the French to forget the atrocities that were committed during the Second World War. Klaus falls in love with Jeanne, the daughter of the local mayor. He discovers that his commanders intend to demolish the ruins of a local church, in which civilians were murdered by the German occupation forces at 1944. A local journalist who researches the event discovers that West German General Rucker ordered the massacre, but he is mysteriously murdered. Klaus defies his commanding officer Siebert, who instructs him to steal the documents indicting Rucker, and hands the evidence over to Jeanne.