Geschichte vom armen Hassan

• Ekkehard Schall: Hassan
• Erwin Geschonneck: businessman Mahmoud
• Ernst Otto Fuhrmann: Kadi
• Georgetta Sager: Fatima
• Heinz Schubert: Water Distributor

The story of the poor Hassan is a German children's film DEFA by Gerhard Klein from the year 1958. It is based on motives of a Uighur tale.

Action

A stone desert in Asia. Before the estate of the wealthy merchant Mahmud, who sells water from his well to dealers, the poor Hassan lives in his hut. He once again no money for water; his property consists of a tray and a talking parrot. When the parrot one day the estate Mahmud flying and sitting there at the fountain, Hassan Mahmud goes to the gate and trying to retrieve the bird. Mahmoud rushes his dog to Hassan. When the dog wants to kill the parrot, Hassad trying to scare him with throwing a stone. The dog is made from stone and dies. Before corrupt Kadi Mahmud enforces that Hassan him now must serve as a dog.

Hassan is held in the courtyard of Machmudschen property on a chain as a dog. Mahmud slave Fatima tried to persuade Hassan to escape, but rejects the, since the judgment of cadi is always an expression of the will of Allah. As one night thieves in the estate Mahmud penetrate and steal a horse, Hassan tried to stop them at first, but prevents him from doing his chain. He starts barking, but Mahmud does not respond. When he noticed the theft, he complains Hassan again before the Qadi, as he had made ​​possible by his inaction the theft of the horse. Since the Kadi long coveted Fatima promised that pronounces judgment that Hassan Mahmud now is to replace the stolen horse.

Hassan must first like a horse hold the Brunnenrad in transition and is - as he stands against the Kadi and Mahmud who still argue during prayer at the price of Fatima - harnessed to the carriage to drive both men into the desert. He plans to free himself and collapses in the desert. During a quarrel between the two men at the last water rations begins Hassan gathers his last strength, freed himself from the harness and controls the car against a rock. Both men it suggests that behind the rock sat a lion that could both sell through barking, and both men begin to bark. Hassan returns to Mahmud property whose door he opens. Finally he reaches the fountain and drinks. Fatima starts to sing a song, which states that only the load-free man can also enjoy the beauties of the world.

Production

The story of the poor Hassan was shot in the studio and saw its premiere on July 19, 1958. Another release title of the film was Hassan and the rich merchant Mahmud.

The film begins in a black and white shot of lead actor Ekkehard Schall, the audience imagines already in mask as an actor and call the other actors of the film. The credits that are written down in a book, published by his turning the pages. He closes the book and begins to introduce into the action. Only now appears in the film about the color setting and the real action begins. This appears contrary to the underlying fairy tale " all fantastic flourishes [ rid ] " and is based on the " Brechtian didactic theory ": not " staring so romantic ', Brecht has called to the educated classes in the theater. This impression also the unusual and probably unique experiment in the DEFA history. "

Criticism

The contemporary critics wrote that " this in symbolic tale parable [ ... ] many lessons in it [ entails ], which are highlighted by the alienated form in which they are dressed. [ ... ] Such a parable but is likely to develop children barely, and the official premiere in the presence of many children also showed that this is held exclusively at those events. It can therefore not be recommended to show this film in children's shows. " Other critics saw in the story of poor Hassan a film that " large and small "was capable of spectators, where he was for children to be recommended from ten years ago," when parents and teachers open their understanding of the truth that is being said here. "

Other critics asked the question, " whether you can take the drama Brecht readily on the screen," based the effectiveness of the film as opposed to theater but mainly "on the suggestion of an immediate experience ." The film trying to "keep the audience at a distance ." On the whole, however, the film was " a sophisticated work of art, an interesting attempt on the way to the fairy tale of our time. "