Helmut Foernbacher Movies

Abstract images produced with an electronic video mix -- as well as the surrealist paintings of artist Mati Klarwein -- highlight this adaptation of the literary classic by Herman Hesse. Max von Sydow stars as Harry Haller, a self-absorbed, misanthropic writer contemplating the duality of his nature as both a social outsider disenchanted with the chaos and disorder of the everyday world and an inner "steppenwolf." Planning to commit suicide by the age of 50, Haller seeks a reconciliation of these different aspects of the self, while encountering a mysterious woman who leads him into a magical realm where his efforts to achieve redemption may be realized through a metaphysical transcendence. Whether it is mental illness, narcotics, or an authentically supernatural experience that overtakes Haller remains unclear. Essentially as plotless as Hesse's source novel, Steppenwolf (1974) was mostly memorable for its avant garde visuals, which made it a favorite of youthful audiences seeking hallucinogenic cinematic experiences such as those in the final half hour of 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide

A young letter carrier possesses the unlimited gift of loving, much to the delight of the females on his postal route. His daily "special deliveries" are welcomed by the distaffs but severely curtails the business of a local psychiatrist. The frustrated shrink grows vampire fangs, but he tries to kill the postman with more conventional means. Guns, knives and traps fail to snare the intended victim, and the psychiatrist ends up killing himself. The local priest soon discovers the dead man is not in his grave, after a series of supernatural events point to the presence of a jealous vampire. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

Popular Dutch moppet singer Heintje appears in his fourth film in this sentimental sob story. Heintje's innocent father Klaus (Heinz Reincke) is wrongly imprisoned on a trumped-up embezzlement charge. The boy goes to live with his maternal grandfather, who is cold, distant and wealthy. He has never forgiven Klaus for eloping with his daughter who died shortly after Heintje's birth. The boy melts the stony heart of the callous grandfather and helps track down the villains who sent his father to jail. Klaus falls in love with his beautiful court-appointed attorney. Heintje sings several songs in the film and is reunited with his estranged father who looks forward to marrying his lawyerly lady-love. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

Two boyhood friends from different backgrounds reflect back on their childhood growing up during World War II. Both are nearly 30 years old and share a common mistrust of the older generation and their traditional expectations. One is from a wealthy family, while his friend has had to work all his life and now is a successful journalist. The two friends comment that they feel like foxes who look for the opportunity to escape. The wealthy man sees no alternative other than to move to Australia and start a new life. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

The sketchy plot and cliched dialogue in this uneven drama about rescue in the Alps are more than balanced by the daredevil, visually evocative, and challenging footage of men and planes converging on the victims of a mountaineering accident. Several people from various parts of Europe have joined a particularly challenging tour that takes them through dangerous areas in the Swiss Alps. Everything is going well until they are trapped in a glacier and some are killed, others are injured, and they need help to get out alive. As the search parties and planes approach, the danger is far from over. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide