Hinterholz 8

The story unfolds in a late 20th-century Vienna setting, where urban life and housing concerns shape daily life. The plot revolves around a middle-class family negotiating mortgages, renovation costs, and the threat of losing their home. The era’s social and economic conditions provide the backdrop for the couple's struggles.

The story unfolds in Vienna and its leafy outskirts, where a crowded apartment drives the Krcals to seek a home in the outskirts. They discover an abandoned cottage with a view of the Vienna woods, a dream of tranquility contrasted with the pressures of urban life. The setting blends the old Viennese urban fabric with a tree-lined, semi-rural landscape that highlights the contrast between city living and the lure of a quieter home.

🏡 Homeownership

The Krcals chase the dream of a quiet, affordable home, only to be crushed by inflated prices and costly renovations. The pursuit exposes the gap between aspiration and reality as debts mount and dreams erode. The film uses the house as a symbol for security, status, and the fragility of middle-class success.

💔 Family Strain

Financial hardship and a failed renovation put enormous pressure on Herbert and Margit's marriage. Their different responses to mounting costs drive emotional distance and conflict. The crisis strains trust, leading to a painful separation and a reevaluation of family priorities.

🕳️ Hidden Past

Digging into the newly found cellar reveals bones from an ancient plague mass grave, turning a home renovation into a confrontation with history. The discovery links the present to a darker past and unsettles the family’s sense of security. The land’s buried past intrudes on contemporary life with a reminder of mortality.

🛰️ Surreal Ending

The film culminates in an absurd, meta twist where a sci‑fi image appears as the family is united after a crisis. The ending juxtaposes ordinary hardship with a humorous, otherworldly intervention. It invites the audience to reflect on fantasy as a release from everyday desperation.