Nachtwache

Keepers of the Night

The Protestant minister Heger as well as the Catholic chaplain von Imhoff are responsible for administering the religious welfare in a hospital. Following the death of her daughter in the war, Cornelie, the assistant medical director, has lost all faith in God. One day, the actor Gorgas, Cornelie‘s former lover and father of her deceased daughter appears, wanting to visit his old friend von Imhoff. During the following days, Heger’s 10 year old daughter invites Gorgas to the amusement park, where she is accidentally killed by a swing-boat. Devastated by this heavy blow of fate, Heger appears to be cracking up, but finds help and consolation from von Imhoff, who indeed even has enough strength to help stop Gorgas from committing suicide. Cornelie regains her faith and stays with Heger. The first German film to be made after 1945 directly in conjunction with the ideas and financial support provided from the Protestant Church.