A farming village after the First World War. Seven male and female servants inherit the estate of their dead lord. Nothing like that has ever happened! The Siebtelbauern, one-seventh farmer, have to learn how to live freely and independently, but in the meantime animosity grows among the age-old farming community that surrounds them and that wants nothing to do with these young servants with no master. The conflict escalates into violence, destruction and lynchings.Stefan Ruzowitzky: ‘Westerns and Heimat films are about land that has to be defended and fought for. The Heimat film, in which the land is already divided up, shows a static world in which the people rebel against a fate that overcomes them. In a western there are heroes who show initiative, courage and determination to conquer their land – often with violence. Seen in this light, Die Siebtelbauern is a western – an Alpine western.’ Die Siebtelbauern looks at various aspects of farming. The film’s power is in the subtle observations of the (lack of) manners and behaviour of the members of farming culture. Lots of work has been done to evoke the regional character and the dialogue is a juicy dialect. In this ambitious film with many characters and supporting characters, the themes of love, struggle, revenge and reconciliation are depicted inventively.
