March of Millions

'March of Millions
Die Flucht'
Genre World War II film
Directed by Kai Wessel
Produced by Katrin Goetter, Nico Hofmann, Joachim Kosack, Sebastian Werninger
Written by Gabriela Sperl
Starring Maria Furtwängler, Jean-Yves Berteloot, Hanns Zischler, Frédéric Vonhof
Music by Enjott Schneider
Budget €9 million
Country Germany
Language German
Original channel ARD
Original run 4 March 2007 – 5 March 2007
Running time 179 min (2 parts)
No. of episodes 2

March of Millions is the international English title of the multi-award-winning three-hour German television film Die Flucht (The Flight). The film stars Maria Furtwängler in the role of Lena Gräfin von Mahlenberg, the leader of a small convoy of refugees from East Prussia (including French and Russian prisoners of war and forced labourers) fleeing the advancing Red Army in the winter of 1944-1945, and trying to survive uprooted in Bavaria in the aftermath of World War II. When first broadcast by ARD in two parts, on 4 and 5 March 2007, it drew 13.5 million viewers.[1]

The production was reported to have cost €9m and to have employed over 2,000 extras.[2]

The film was controversial for portraying German war-time suffering during the Evacuation of East Prussia (although a number of German atrocities were also shown or mentioned), and led to adverse comment from a foreign-policy adviser to the Polish president of the time, fearful of potential German claims to lands or property in East Prussia lost during the War.[3]

Awards

References

  1. Meza, Ed (Oct 5, 2007). "Germany Keen on Epic Productions". Variety. Retrieved 2009-11-19.
  2. Paterson, Tony (5 March 2007). "German TV Breaks Taboo with Story of Refugees". The Independent. Retrieved 2009-11-19.
  3. Kirschbaum, Erik (Mar 5, 2007). "Film depicting Germans as WW2 victims fires debate". Reuters. Retrieved 2009-11-19.

External links