Einstweilen wird es Mittag

The study "The Unemployed of Marienthal" (1933) by Marie Jahoda, Paul F. Lazarsfeld and Hans Zeisel inspired screenwriter Heide Kouba to make this film, which is not only dedicated to the people being studied, "the unbroken, the resigned, the desperate and the neglected apathetic", but also to the relationship between the researchers and the people being studied:

Do they all have to endure their questions? What effect does their presence have on the place? How does unemployment change people and where do they look for help? "If you want to work, you'll find something!" is one mantra, "If we don't do it, others will!" is another. Kouba and Brandauer offered the project to ORF as early as 1984, but it was only for the "year of remembrance" 1988 (to commemorate the Anschluss) that it materialised. Karin Brandauer's film has long since become a classic. (J.P.)