DER FUCHS review by Marinell Haegelin
© ALAMODE FILM
DER FUCHS ( THE FOX ) ****
GERMANY | AUSTRIA 2021 OPENING APRIL 13 , 2023
DIRECTED BY : ADRIAN GOIGINGER
WRITING CREDITS : ADRIAN GOIGINGER
PRINCIPAL ACTORS : SIMON MORZÉ , KARL MARKOVICS , KAROLA NIEDERHUBER , ADRIANE GRADZIEL , ALEXANDER BEYER
The Fox is a true , bittersweet story about Franz Streitberger ’ s journey into manhood . In 1927 , the large Streitberger family eke out a living farming in Austria ’ s mountainous Pinzgau Region . The youngest , Franz ( Maximilian Reinwald ), and Mutti ( Karola Maria Niederhuber ), worn out from childbearing and meagerness , share the last bits of supper nightly . Franz falls ill pressing his father ’ s ( Karl Markovics ) decision to reduce the strain on the family . The last glimpse of home by the distraught six-year-old , carried by the rich neighbor ( Alex Stein ), is of Mutti firmly closing the door .
Ten years later , with Austria ’ s annexation , the Austrian Army motorcycle courier , Franz ( Simon Morzé ), is drafted into the German Wehrmacht . Quiet and withdrawn , Franz hovers outside the soldiers ’ natural comradery until his embarrassing , nugatory attempt to join in sends the quicktempered Franz dashing into the woods . There he finds an orphaned fox kit ; feeling a kindred spirit , he takes it under protection . Because of his unobtrusiveness and work , the kit is concealable . There is an analogy between its natural growth and their relationship . When his battalion enters France , few are aware of Franz ’ s adoptee ; the French Marie ( Adriane Gradziel ) marvels at their bond . Prior to a major offensive , the reality of Franz ’ s past comes to bear on the present dilemma , opening a window into his suppressed anger , and the possibility for healing .
Austrian writer-director Adrian Goiginger serendipitously taped his nonagenarian great-grandfather ’ s stories , then arduously whittled down the 200-plus-page screenplay to create Der Fuchs . Told in the first person , Goiginger casts Morzé who “ amazingly ” committed to the two years needed for learning the now obsolete Salzburg dialect and raising four wild foxes from birth . Goiginger laughingly says , “ Never again !” He attributes the fox kit to mentally saving his great-grandfather and keeping him safe . The “ crazy , horrible time ” of World War II and someone ’ s personal revival is personified by Yoshi Heimrath ’ s cinematography , Simon Blasi ’ s realistic editing , and the sound department ’ s omnipresent inconspicuous soundscape accompanied by Arash Safaian ’ s music . More important than the destruction and vulgarities of war is the humanity and salvation of these two creatures ’ salvation . 118 minutes
70 HAMBURG HAPPENINGS