Preussisches Liebesgluck

Germany | 2007 | 58 Minutes

A Prussian soldier with African roots and the fascinating story of a very special family in Germany.

„Preußisches Liebesglück“ is the title of a painting from 1890: a proud Prussian soldier holds his girl in his arms. The girl is white and red-haired, the soldier is black.

How did a man of African origin become the music master of a grenadier regiment in Königsberg in 1890? How did his family come to Germany and how did his descendants survive the Nazi era? The documentary film by Sönke el Bitar and Gorch Pieken traces the fascinating saga of a German officer’s family. It recounts the beginnings in Egypt, where in 1843 a young Nubian boy is presented to Prince Albrecht of Prussia as a gift. He describes life in the stately palace where the black boy grows up and later becomes the silver steward and constant companion of the prince.

We see the second generation of the family: a talented musician who makes a brilliant career in the military and attracts attention in Königsberg as a military musician but also at civilian events. The film follows the family history through the Nazi era to the present day.

Credits

Sound: Stoytcho Iliev
Music: Bertram Denzel
Commissioning Editor: Dagmar Mielke (rbb/ Arte), Rolf Bergmann (rbb), Claudia Bucher (Arte)
Production Companies: TIME PRINTS on behalf of Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg in cooperation with Arte