Question 7
- Christian De Bresson: Peter Gottfried
- Michael Gwynn: Pastor Friedrich Gottfried
- Almut Eggert: Anneliese Zingler
- Margaret Jahnen: Gerda Gottfried
- Erik Schumann: Strong
- Leo Bieber: Party Secretary Rettmann
- Max Buchsbaum: Inspector Hermann
- Fritz Wepper: Youth leader Dehmert
- Eduard Linkers: foreman Zingler
- Helmo Kindermann: Sergeant Luedtke
- Louis V. Arco: Dörfl
Question Seven is a film drama directed by Stuart Rosenberg in 1961, which originated in German -American co-production.
Action
The SED operates an education program called Education for socialist personality. By refusing a higher university degree students should thus give up their Christian faith in favor of the desired political views. The 15 -year-old pastor's son Peter Gottfried is hoping for acceptance into a music conservatory. As an entrance examination him seven questions to be submitted. The last question concerns the main influence of his socialist education. Peter realizes that he must renounce his faith and his religious beliefs. He looks for help from his dilemma.
While Peters teachers Strong tries to convince him to give the required response from the party, his father and his girlfriend Anneliese confirm him in to stand up for his convictions. When the party Peter provides the ability to view, at the Berlin Youth Festival, a music competition to take part, he accepted despite all the protests of his father, the requirements of the party. In Berlin, however, he realizes that it is used only as a puppet of the party to the public. He is leaving the festival and flees to the West.
Reviews
The lexicon of the International film describes this film as " haunting and free of distortion set forth in the conflict of a Protestant minister and his son. "
Bosley Crowther of The New York Times highlights the "extraordinary timeliness and dramatic directness " out.
The TimeOut Film Guide, however, criticized the " obvious propaganda." While bein think the story enough dramatic aspects, but will reduce them to common stereotypes and the simple good and evil mechanism.
Awards
At the International Film Festival in Berlin, the film was awarded the youth prize for best feature film. Stuart Rosenberg also won the OCIC Award and was nominated for the Golden Bear. As the best full-length feature film production film won the belt in silver. In addition, the film was honored as the best film of the NBR Award from the National Board of Review.
Background
In smaller roles are seen by Rolf Nauckhoff as Lord Marshal, Günter Meisner as Mr. Schmidt and Willy Trenk - Trebitsch, Gerd Vespermann, Nora Minor, Richard Crafts, Stefan Schnabel, Hans Schumm, Reginald Pasch and Erik Jelde.
The bulk of the action takes place in the fictional East German country town Oster city, where just running the campaign for collectivization of peasant agriculture to agricultural production cooperatives. Some crucial scenes in Berlin. In the appendix is noted that large parts of the movie were filmed in Mölln. The film premiered at the International Film Festival in Berlin in June 1961 before the building of the Berlin Wall. The general theatrical release took place in the U.S. on September 28 and in the Federal Republic on 16 October 1961.