Zechmeister
In 1949, Maria Zechmeister was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of her husband. There was neither evidence nor a confession, but in the village in Upper Austria, where she lived, there was a lot of talk, especially behind her back. These rumors provided the basis for the legal inquiries. The film, on the other hand, is based on the minutes of the trial, on motions, statements and what remained of them three decades later. Maria Zechmeister, who was released early after 17 years in prison, and five witnesses appear in the film as themselves; the jurors and pub visitors are played by people from the area, and the other roles are performed by actors.
In its gentle radicalism, the film ZECHMEISTER – a key work from the zero hour of new Austrian cinema – tells about farewells and new beginnings. (Florian Widegger)
Zechmeister
1981
Austria
79 min
Dokumentarischer Spielfilm
German
German, English