Habermann

In the fertile valley of the Sudetenland, a modest town thrives under the steady hum of a combined saw‑ and grist‑mill. Its owner, August Habermann, has built a life of quiet prosperity, believing that the German and Czech inhabitants can coexist in mutual respect. His marriage to Jana, a woman of Czech heritage, and his long‑standing friendship with Karel Březina, a Czech craftsman, anchor his world in a fragile but hopeful harmony that seems to defy the gathering storm beyond the borders.

The summer of 1938 brings the continent to a fevered edge, and the looming specter of war begins to infiltrate everyday life. Political realignments shift the balance of power, turning commercial opportunities into moral dilemmas. As foreign mandates press upon the town, August finds his once‑secure enterprise caught between loyalty to his community and the unsettling demands of a new order. Meanwhile, his younger brother Hans embraces the fervor of the era, creating a personal clash that mirrors the broader cultural rift.

Against this backdrop of mounting uncertainty, the film paints a portrait of ordinary people pressed into extraordinary circumstances. The atmosphere is one of tense elegance, where the rhythmic creak of the mill’s waterwheel contrasts with the silent dread that hangs over each conversation. Relationships are tested, identities are questioned, and the promise of peace feels increasingly out of reach. Habermann invites the viewer to linger in a world where love, duty, and survival intersect, hinting at the inevitable collision between personal conviction and the inexorable tide of history.

Last Updated: November 25, 2025 at 14:52