The Longing
Das Verlangen
Synopsis
It is set in a dreary village in the Schwabian-Frankish Forest where the seemingly reserved Lena lives with her tyrant of a husband, Johannes, in a loveless marriage. Johannes is the village's spiritual leader and Lena is his faithful, ever-ready-to-serve wife. Lena's daily life is characterized by grinding monotony, a life narrowly circumscribed by nursing, organ playing and the duties of the marriage bed. The mysterious murder of a village girl suddenly knocks this humdrum existence off its tracks. In the wake of these events Lena discovers the affection and tenderness for which she has always longed in Paul, the village mechanic. This encounter is the start of an emancipation that leads her not to reveal Paul's secret regarding the girl's murder, for fear of losing her newly won piece of happiness. In turn it means she has to remain silent, as she has always done in her many years of marriage. So it is that this love ultimately turns Lena herself into a fallen angel.
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Release History & Theatrical Window
August 8, 2002
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Iain Dilthey
- Screenplay & Story
- Iain Dilthey, Silke Parzich
- Original Title
- Das Verlangen
- Country of Origin
- Germany
- Spoken Languages
- German
- Runtime
- 1h 34m
- Production Studios
- Artus Postproduktion
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Iain Dilthey
Iain Dilthey, Silke Parzich
Justus Pankau
Till Schmerbeck
Department Leadership Roster
Iain Dilthey
Director
Justus Pankau
Director of Photography
Till Schmerbeck
Producer
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Longing.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Longing
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Longing about?
It is set in a dreary village in the Schwabian-Frankish Forest where the seemingly reserved Lena lives with her tyrant of a husband, Johannes, in a loveless marriage. Johannes is the village's spiritual leader and Lena is his faithful, ever-ready-to-serve wife. Lena's daily life is characterized by grinding monotony, a life narrowly circumscribed by nursing, organ playing and the duties of the marriage bed. The mysterious murder of a village girl suddenly knocks this humdrum existence off its tracks. In the wake of these events Lena discovers the affection and tenderness for which she has always longed in Paul, the village mechanic. This encounter is the start of an emancipation that leads her not to reveal Paul's secret regarding the girl's murder, for fear of losing her newly won piece of happiness. In turn it means she has to remain silent, as she has always done in her many years of marriage. So it is that this love ultimately turns Lena herself into a fallen angel.
Who directed The Longing?
The Longing was directed by Iain Dilthey.
Who stars in The Longing?
The principal cast of The Longing includes Susanne-Marie Wrage, Klaus Grünberg, Robert Lohr, Heidemarie Rohweder, Manfred Kranich.
When was The Longing released and how long is it?
The Longing was released in 2002 with a total runtime of 1h 34m.