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by Adolf Ehn
grade: 7.5
In this hybrid and carefully conceived form, Die Passionsspiele im Tiroler Thiersee strikes us as particularly refined, a precious and rare historical document that sheds light on a reality still unknown to many people today. Restored by Filmarchiv Austria and presented on the Filmarchiv On channel.
Traditions
An important tradition has been upheld in the small town of Thiersee, in Tyrol, since the 17th century. Here, in fact, the first performances of the Passion of Christ were documented as far back as 1695, and over time – particularly from 1799 onwards – this tradition was carried on by the local people to ward off the threat of Napoleon’s troops, as well as any possible war or misfortune. Of particular interest in this regard is the short documentary Die Passionsspiele im Tiroler Thiersee, made in 1938 by director Adolf Ehn, recently restored by Filmarchiv Austria and presented on the Filmarchiv On channel.
Die Passionsspiele im Tiroler Thiersee, therefore, specifically shows us one of these representations of the Passion of Christ which, according to various sources, took place in 1936 at the Passionsspielhaus, built in 1926 specifically for this very purpose. Before the performance began, however, the director wanted to introduce us to the particular context in which it took place and, of course, to the leading actors who made it possible.
Life flows peacefully in the small town of Thiersee. The streets are elegant and well-kept, and the place itself is undoubtedly rather picturesque. However, as the camera moves through the town’s streets, we immediately notice something that is set to change that little world for a very, very long time: the flags of the National Socialist Party are hanging from some of the windows. Just two years later (that is, precisely when this film, Die Passionsspiele im Tiroler Thiersee, was released), the Anschluss would take place, and this tradition would be interrupted, resuming only from 1955 onwards.
In any case, then, this fascinating documentary Die Passionsspiele im Tiroler Thiersee takes us by the hand through this small reality that has, over the years, taken on ever-greater significance. After visiting a few spots in the town, we are introduced, one by one, to the main actors. Each of them has their own job and their own life, but for the occasion they are ready to take on the role of a very specific character. Shortly afterwards, inside the aforementioned Passionsspielhaus, the people we met earlier become Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, Pontius Pilate and so on. And for the first time in front of a camera, the representation can finally begin.
Having initially adopted a documentary-style approach, Adolf Ehn therefore prefers, in the second part of his Die Passionsspiele im Tiroler Thiersee, the style of a real fiction film, following the actors as they perform and allowing us to experience it all almost first-hand. And in this hybrid and well-crafted form, this work strikes us as particularly refined, as a precious and rare historical document that shows us a reality still unknown to many people today.
Original title: Die Passionsspiele im Tiroler Thiersee
Directed by: Adolf Ehn
Country/year: Austria / 1938
Running time: 13’
Genre: documentary
Screenplay: Adolf Ehn
Cinematography: Adolf Ehn
Produced by: ÖVW