A Ambivalent Legal Case from 1904 Becomes a Movie
Published: Sunday, Sep 10th 2023, 10:40
Updated At: Friday, Oct 13th 2023, 14:12
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In the autumn of 2024, the movie "Friedas Fall" will be released in cinemas. Directed by Maria Brendle, the film tells the true story of Frieda Keller, a seamstress from St. Gallen who was convicted of child murder in 1904. The case caused a stir throughout Switzerland. The first scene of the movie is set in St. Gallen, where it is raining heavily. The story follows the young lawyer Arnold Janggen (Max Simonischek) and the law-abiding state prosecutor and prison director Walter Gmür (Stefan Merki) as they investigate the gruesome discovery of the body of Frieda's five-year-old son Ernstli. The movie is based on the historical novel "Die Verlorene" by Swiss author and filmmaker Michèle Minelli, who also co-wrote the screenplay. Maria Brendle has added new characters, such as Erna Gmür, who is married to the state prosecutor but is childless. Despite the heavy subject matter, the director and her team have tried to bring lightness to the characters. The story of Frieda Keller sparked debates about women's rights and a fairer society, and it had a major impact on the development of the Swiss criminal justice system. Maria Brendle believes that there are still too few interesting and beautiful roles for women, but she has tried to show that even within the limits of their roles, strong female characters can exist. The movie explores the ambivalence between victim and perpetrator, and it is set in St. Gallen, where the tragic case of Frieda Keller is still remembered.nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
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