Heinz Weixelbraun

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He is the rat-catcher...

If you've never seen this film, then I think you've missed much. This film is made especially for teen-agers, it teechs them how not to become to one of those rats, who are the sacrifices of the Ratenfanger.

What is it about?

So, it's a story about a girl. Her name is Maria. She's deeply unhappy. The world around her is grey and boring. One day she walks along the street and suddenly meets a boy. He stretchs her out a leaflet. "Have you ever think about your life? About how to change it? Our sect "The Movement of Love" holds the meeting tonight, you have to visit it, certainly!" Maybe you've met such people too, they're trying to give you some leaflets, but you're too hurry to take it, of course... And Maria acted just like you:) "Yes, yes, sure...", she says absent-mindedly and continues her way. And we learn from this episode, that the guy's name is Herbert and he's played by Weixelbraun.

Here we must say that you won't recognize Heinz in this frail boy with the eye-glasses, especially if you've got accustomed to his appearance in "Kommissar Rex". If you know him only like Bock, it'll be a bit hard to watch this movie. "Herbert" plays flute, wears eye-glasses and his build is quite different from the Bock's solid Austrian figure. But let's continue.

Maria goes then to the student hostile and says her friend that she failed the exams. She's sad and dissapointed. She picks her things to move from the hostile. "Maybe I'm too stupid", she sighs. And then she remembers about the leaflet. "Hmm, and why not?" And she decides to go to this meeting and takes her friend with herself.

The meeting is held by Mr.Adams, the manager of the sect. He speaks English and the executive of the sect translates his speach. Mr.Adams explains to this young stupid "rats", that this sect is the best in the whole world, that it's able to change life of each young man and help him to find happiness. Maria is susceptible girl, and she decides to change her life by joining this sect. After the meeting the goes to her boy-friend and says, that there's no feelings between them anymore. "Have we anything common, to your mind?" asks Maria. "Too few", answers Peter. Yes, a very laconic talk indeed...

Mr.Adams compliments Herbert for the recruitment of the new member. He offers him a place in any London university. He knows very well that it's the most desired dream of Herbert. And Herbert is ready to everything from now on, just to make this dream come true.

Then Herbert begins to haunt Maria. "What do you want?!" - "You, your heart, your love!" Yes, an importunate young man... Then he invites Maria at his place and offers her psychologic help. "Sometimes you just have to tell everything that interrupts you to somebody, you'll get better!" Then he takes her to the meetings of the sectarians over and over again. Maria - after her visit to one of those meetings: "I feel myself much more better!" Then Herbert comes to her place and prevents her studying. He is a nervous type and being angry he brakes Maria's best pencil.

"You don't need studying!(oh yes, of course..) It is much more important to change your life! You must go with me. You'll be fine!" And poor girl trusts his fairy-tales. They come to the castle, the residense of the sect. Herbert plays flute for Maria, and she enjoys this beautiful music. This guy certainly knows how to make a girl fall in love with him...:) "You don't want to back home, don't you?" He persudes her to stay with him for the night. A horroble word - "LoveSzene". The dialogue in the bedroom: "I want to show you how happy you can be. You must stay with us! A life without problems... Just imagine it!" - "Yes... You're right... I want to try".

Maria goes for work with the other sectarians to a small factory. She is happy and doesn't understand that she's only a labour force for making Mr.Adams rich. Maria's parents and Peter are looking for her, but can't find her anywhere. Then suddenly Peter finds a leaflet on her table and hurries to the editorial office of a newspaper to make an announcement.

Herbert ran to Vienna. Peter finds Maria and asks her to come back and leave the sect and all these stupid ideas about happiness. And she agrees. She is broken, but now she's not blind, she can see, that whole this story with Herbert's "love" was a big awful lie.

By the end of the film we see the following episode: Maria walks along the street and suddenly sees Herbert. He distributes the leaflets to the passers-by again and even doesn't see Maria. She turns aside.

Impressions.
The film is rather simple. It's a lesson, a sample for the young pepole - watch and never repeat it. The sect can't make you happy, here you're just a sheep and you're being sheared. The sect based on the total control. If you're not subordinate, you'll be punished. And of course, what happiness can be without freedom?

The film was demonstrated in the Austrian schools, for the senior pupils. They liked it. They said: Herbert is a small evil dwarf, selfish fanat of his dream. Maria - is a poor girl, she is lost in this big scary world. But I think, there's no positive heroes in this film. Even Maria. She's just a stupid girl. But Herbert made something good: he made her accept the things just like they are. She won't make such mistakes again. And he... He's looking for a new sacrifice. He is a rat-catcher.

Prepared by non-secterian Christian Schu.

Translation by Allie.

Russian

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