Kreuzweg

Stations of the Cross

Maria finds herself caught between two worlds. At school this 14-year-old girl has all the typical teenage interests, but when she’s at home with her family she follows the teachings of the Society of St. Pius XII and their traditionalist interpretation of Catholicism. Everything that Maria thinks and does must be examined before God. And since the Lord is a strict shepherd, she lives in constant fear of committing some misconduct. Whilst Maria’s mother takes a tough line in compelling her daughter to stay on the path of righteousness, her father is often reticent and stands back during critical moments. Conflicts intensify as arguments erupt with teachers and doctors. Desperate to please everyone, Maria soon finds herself trapped in the crossfire. How can she reconcile her feelings for a fellow pupil with her vow to maintain purity of heart in her love for God? Will the Lord demand a tremendous sacrifice so that her brother can be healed from his sickness?

Dietrich Brüggemann unfolds his young protagonist’s emotional ordeal in fourteen images based on the Stations of the Cross, from ‘Jesus is condemned to death’ to ‘Jesus’ body is laid in the tomb’.

Source: 64. Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin (Catalogue)