Film Archive

Legend of Paul and Paula, The (Legende von Paul und Paula, Die)

Paul and Paula have known each other for a long time, but it is only in a roundabout way that they eventually become lovers. There are reasons for this, of course: Paul is married albeit unhappily. Paula is also tied, though not to a husband, but she has a steady partner and two children, besides. Saft, the tyre dealer, sets out to win round the young single woman. Being rational and thinking of what is best for the children, Paula is not really opposed to marrying this extremely decent and respectable, though much older, man.

Paula and Paul meet each other in a bar by accident. They fall in love, and this feeling very soon develops into a profound emotion. Yet, Paul, who can never make up his mind, almost gambles away his luck. Paula feels betrayed by him. And when her child dies in an accident, she blames herself for it and splits up with Paul. Only now does he realize how much he loves Paula. He starts to fight for her. This is so moving that all who witness it will deeply sympathize with Paul. Finally, Paul wins over his Paula despite all the obstacles. Their love becomes legendary in Paul and Paula's neighborhood, especially because Paula dies at the birth of their child.

Heiner Carow was born in Rostock in 1929 and died in 1997. He attended directing classes at the DEFA Studios for Young Filmmakers. He was a director at the DEFA Studios for Popular Science Films from 1952 to 1956 and made his first feature film, Sheriff Teddy in 1957. His major films include: Sie nannten ihn Amigo (1959), Das Leben beginnt (1960), Die Hochzeit von Lanneken (1964), Die Russen kommen (1968/87), Die Legende von Paul und Paula (1973), Ikarus (1975), Bis dass der Tod euch scheidet (1979), So viele Traeume (1986), Coming Out (1989) and Verfehlung (1991).
 

Genre Adventure
Category Feature Film Cinema
Year of Production 1973
Director Heiner Carow
Screenplay Ulrich Plenzdorf
Director of Photography Juergen Brauer
Editor Evelyn Carow
Music by Peter Gotthardt
Producer Erich Albrecht
Production Company DEFA/Berlin
Principal Cast Angelica Domroese, Winfried Glatzeder
Length 106 min, 2,900 m
Format 35 mm, color, 1:1.35
Original Version German
Subtitled Versions English
Sound Technology Mono
Festival Screenings Pusan 2004
German Distributor PROGRESS Film-Verleih/Berlin

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