Bearskin
Der Bärenhäuter
Synopsis
The war is over and soldier Christoffel has no prospects for the future and no money. He doesn't know what to do, so he meets the devil. He offers him a pact: Christoffel's pockets are always full of money, but he is not allowed to wash, cut his hair or nails for seven years and he is not allowed to sleep in a bed. If he doesn't keep to all these things, he will be forever devoted to the devil. Christoffel accepts the condition. Relieved of his worries about the future, Christoffel sets off. However, he soon becomes lonely. Society avoids him; he is dirty, unkempt and smelly. He only finds a place to stay in prison. He pays off the debts of a goldsmith, which wins him the heart of Katarina, the goldsmith's daughter. However, Christoffel is aware of his appearance and leaves her. After seven years, he is finally cleansed by the devil himself and returns to her as a well-groomed man.
Top Cast
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Jens-Uwe Bogadtke
Christoffel
Jürgen Trott
Nico
Janina Hartwig
Katarina
Klaus Mertens
Vogt
Fred Delmare
Gustav
Marina Krogull
Susanne
Horst Papke
Zweiter Gast
Leon Niemczyk
Niklaus
Günter Rüger
Wendel
Helmut Schreiber
Kasimir
Manfred Heine
Hans Teuscher
Heidemarie Wenzel
Dieter Wien
Gerhard Vogt
Pedro Hebenstreit
Franziska Glöss-Ebermann
Klaus-Peter Thiele
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Walter Beck
- Screenplay & Story
- Wilhelm Grimm, Walter Beck, Eva Görsch, Jacob Grimm
- Original Score
- Günther Fischer
- Original Title
- Der Bärenhäuter
- Country of Origin
- East Germany
- Spoken Languages
- German
- Runtime
- 1h 17m
- Production Studios
- DEFA-Studio für Spielfilme
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Walter Beck
Wilhelm Grimm, Walter Beck, Eva Görsch, Jacob Grimm
Günther Fischer
Günter Heimann
Ilse Peters
Department Leadership Roster
Günter Heimann
Director of Photography
Walter Beck
Director
Ilse Peters
Editor
Walter Beck
Writer
Eva Görsch
Writer
Günther Fischer
Original Music Composer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 0 — Approved without age restriction.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Bearskin.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Bearskin
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Bearskin about?
The war is over and soldier Christoffel has no prospects for the future and no money. He doesn't know what to do, so he meets the devil. He offers him a pact: Christoffel's pockets are always full of money, but he is not allowed to wash, cut his hair or nails for seven years and he is not allowed to sleep in a bed. If he doesn't keep to all these things, he will be forever devoted to the devil. Christoffel accepts the condition. Relieved of his worries about the future, Christoffel sets off. However, he soon becomes lonely. Society avoids him; he is dirty, unkempt and smelly. He only finds a place to stay in prison. He pays off the debts of a goldsmith, which wins him the heart of Katarina, the goldsmith's daughter. However, Christoffel is aware of his appearance and leaves her. After seven years, he is finally cleansed by the devil himself and returns to her as a well-groomed man.
Who directed Bearskin?
Bearskin was directed by Walter Beck.
Who stars in Bearskin?
The principal cast of Bearskin includes Jens-Uwe Bogadtke, Jürgen Trott, Janina Hartwig, Klaus Mertens, Fred Delmare.
When was Bearskin released and how long is it?
Bearskin was released in 1986 with a total runtime of 1h 17m.
Who composed the musical score for Bearskin?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Bearskin was composed by Günther Fischer.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Bearskin?
Bearskin holds official age classifications: DE: 0 (FSK 0 — Approved without age restriction.).