The Fair
Kirmes
Synopsis
In 1959, in a small German village, the annual fair is set up. When a carousel is fixed firmly in the ground, a fair worker discovers a skeleton, a steel helmet, and a machine gun. The skeleton belongs to Robert Mertens, a plain soldier, who deserted in 1944 und flew to his home village. But when he arrived, no one wanted to help him, neither his former friends nor the minister, or even his own parents.
Top Cast
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Juliette Mayniel
Annette
Götz George
Robert Mertens
Hans Mahnke
Paul Mertens
Wolfgang Reichmann
Georg Höchert
Manja Behrens
Martha Mertens
Fritz Schmiedel
Priest
Erica Schramm
Eva Schumann
Elisabeth Goebel
Benno Hoffmann
Irmgard Kleber
Hansi Jochmann
Erika
Rudolf Birkemeyer
Raidar Müller-Elmau
Horst Niendorf
Solveig Loevel
Gertrud
Release History & Theatrical Window
West Berlin
Festival / Special Debut
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Wolfgang Staudte
- Screenplay & Story
- Claus Hubalek, Wolfgang Staudte
- Original Score
- Werner Pohl
- Original Title
- Kirmes
- Country of Origin
- Germany, France
- Spoken Languages
- German
- Runtime
- 1h 42m
- Production Studios
- Freie Film Produktion GmbH & Co., Hamburg
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Wolfgang Staudte
Claus Hubalek, Wolfgang Staudte
Werner Pohl
Georg Krause
Lilian Seng
Helmut Käutner, Harald Braun, Wolfgang Staudte
Department Leadership Roster
Helmut Käutner
Producer
Georg Krause
Director of Photography
Harald Braun
Producer
Wolfgang Staudte
Producer
Wolfgang Staudte
Director
Wolfgang Staudte
Writer
Lilian Seng
Editor
Ellen Schmidt
Production Design
Olaf Ivens
Production Design
Anneliese Ludwig
Costume Design
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Fair.
Featured In Curated Collections
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Fair
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Fair about?
In 1959, in a small German village, the annual fair is set up. When a carousel is fixed firmly in the ground, a fair worker discovers a skeleton, a steel helmet, and a machine gun. The skeleton belongs to Robert Mertens, a plain soldier, who deserted in 1944 und flew to his home village. But when he arrived, no one wanted to help him, neither his former friends nor the minister, or even his own parents.
Who directed The Fair?
The Fair was directed by Wolfgang Staudte.
Who stars in The Fair?
The principal cast of The Fair includes Juliette Mayniel, Götz George, Hans Mahnke, Wolfgang Reichmann, Manja Behrens.
When was The Fair released and how long is it?
The Fair was released in 1960 with a total runtime of 1h 42m.
Who composed the musical score for The Fair?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Fair was composed by Werner Pohl.
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Fair?
The Fair holds official age classifications: DE: 16 (FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.).