Two years after the end of the First World War, a cargo ship makes its way down a river towards Austria. A band of weary and dejected prisoners of war sits inside the ship’s hold among its cargo. They cough and groan between hopeful statements about getting back home. Even two years after the cessation of hostilities, it took time for the far-flung Russian prison in which these men rotted to be informed of the end of the Great War. They disembark in Vienna and say their goodbyes before trying to find some semblance of the lives they lived before the war.
Everything is different, almost otherworldly: Activists and rabble-rousers of all stripes flood the streets spreading their rhetoric or protesting the confusing and overwhelming goings on. The leader of this small band of POWs, Perg (Murathan Muslu), finds his house all but abandoned. His loyal maid remains. It is here he first makes contact with his former job as a police inspector, but instead of a warm welcome they bind his wrists and take him down to the station. One of his comrades has been brutally and ritualistically murdered, making Perg a prime suspect.
Hinterland (translated as Homefront) is a unique film in many ways. This outstanding thriller has stuck with me since I first viewed it nearly a year ago. It ranks up there with SE7EN in its unpredictable and violent nature with an outstanding mystery running throughout. What makes Hinterland special is the way it creates a veteran’s experience in post-war Vienna so vividly. Perg’s perception is warped by his experience, and using skillfully planned sets and background green screen the filmmakers show us Vienna through the lens of contemporary art movements such as expressionism, absurdism, and Dada. A visual feast with a gritty and compelling plot, this German-language serial murder thriller will appeal to many viewers in public libraries. Highly Recommended.
Where does this title belong on public library shelves?
Hinterland would be a perfect fit for both foreign language and thriller shelves.
What type of film series could use this title?
If you’re planning a thriller festival, think about including Hinterland.
What kind of college professor could use this title?
Film instructors and art history professors may want Hinterland to show the creative use of 1920s art styles.