Trace Of Stones — Trace Of Stones (Blu Ray)
From the late 60’s, Trace Of Stones is a decidedly serious-toned yet low-key impactful drama set on a socialist-led construction site. It’s a film produced by the DEFA – the state-operated film studio of the German Democratic Republic - and was pulled from theatres or barred from release due to its supposedly anti-socialist themes. The black and white film features some well-realised/nuanced acting, rewarding character arcs, and a look at where the party meets humanity. Here from Eurkea’s Masters of Cinema series is the first ever Blu-ray release of the film, taking in an HD scan, and three archive documentaries.
Trace of Stones ( aka Spur der Steine) is from the year 1966. It was directed/co-written by Nobitz, Thuringia, Germany-born Frank Beyer. Between the late 50’s and 70’s, he had thirteen feature-length films- Zwei Mütter (1957), a war drama regarding a French and a German woman fighting over a baby. Jewish ghetto set drama Jakob The Liar (1974), romantic comedy drama Das Versteck (1978), and Bockshorn (1984) a teen drama regarding the possibility of guardian angels.
The film is centred around/ keeps going back to the work-based trial of Werner Horrath (Eberhard Esche)- a rather meek & slack-shouldered man, who has been placed by the socialist Unity Party to oversee work on the construction site. As the two-hour and twenty-minute film unfolds, we shift back and forth in time, seeing how/ why he’s on trial.
The other two lead characters in the story are the earring-wearing, boorish, and overbearing works foreman Hannes Balla (Manfred Krug). And young female engineer Kati Klee (Krystyna Stypułkowska)- who initially works as a conduit between the two men. Later on, becoming the lover of Horrath.
The film basically looks at the difficult balance between work, relationships, and the party line. It takes place in the firm's conference room, where the trial is taking place. The beer halls where Balla and his men drink, fight, and get up to mischief. The bedsit where Klee lives and where Horrath often turns up under a pseudonym. Horrath’s own apartment he shares with his wife and young daughter. And a train that runs between Horrath's home and the construction site.
All of the lead actors give a largely nuanced and believable portrayal of their characters. Each of which has its own rewarding arc- some more pronounced than others. The supporting cast is also good.
As you’d imagine, the film is largely very dialogue-based, with the tone being serious. The Balla adds in a few moments of levity and anarchy into the mix- though it turns out he’s also a caring & moral fellow too.
At two hours and eighteen minutes, there’s no doubt that Trace Of Stones does drag/ lag at points. But ultimately it’s impactful and engaging, giving one food for thought. I’d say if you already have an interest in this time in German history, it will be even more appealing too.
The new region B Blu-ray features an HD scan. This is nice, crisp, and clear in its monochrome picture. With good, clean English subtitles over a well-defined German language soundtrack.
On the extras side, we get three archive documentaries. Trace of Time: Director Frank Beyer (1 hour & 1 minute). A 1997 doc focusing on director Frank Beyer, widely recognised as one of the most important East German filmmakers. The 11th Plenum: A Cultural Devastation (46.58) documentary on the 11th Plenum, which resulted in the banning of several DEFA productions, including Trace of Stones. Children’s Home (27.37) is a 1978 DEFA documentary on the residents of an East German children’s home, banned until after the fall of the Berlin Wall.
The finished release is finished off with a booklet featuring a new essay on the response of East German audiences to the banning of Trace of Stones by DEFA expert Michael Wedel.
Trace Of Stone is a key/ important DEFA film, and it’s great to see it getting this Eurkea. Featuring a nice crisp new scan, and three interesting archive docs.