In 1979, Austrian film director Walter Bannert was among a group of Vienna cafe patrons beaten up by a gang of young neo-Nazis who wrecked the place. Researching the burgeoning movement in West Germany and Austria for 3 years, Bannert infiltrated their private meetings by convincing party leaders that he wanted to make an objective documentary. His film, The Inheritors is the result, a disturbing and timely fictional drama based entirely on real characters, events and conversations that Bannert came across in the neo-Nazi camps. The film was highly controversial on its original release and theatres screening it was threatened with violent action by neo-Nazi sympathizers. Although it is now over thirty years old, the film remains incredibly relevant as we witness, across the world, the rebirth of right-wing extremism using exactly the same lies and tactics exposed so powerfully in this film.
"On his way home from school, 16-year-old Thomas helps Charly, an unemployed teenager, escape from the police. Despite their differing backgrounds, the boys become good friends and Charly persuades Thomas to join a neo-Nazi youth group. Intrigued and confused by his new friends, Thomas, who is experiencing trouble at home and school, is drawn deeper into a web of sex and violence that leads to a tragic end."
The Inheritors was not screened in its native country for many years until it was rediscovered at the 2015 Viennale Exhibition, where it was praised as a rare and powerful example of Austrian genre cinema with a strong political message. The film was selected at the 1984 Cannes Film Festival for the prestigious Directors Fortnight section. In the same year, it also won a jury prize at the Montreal World Film Festival.
You can pre-order now from DiabolikDVD with an expected release date of October 9th.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
Brand new 2K scan from the film negative.
Exclusive 12-page booklet with essays by Michael Gingold and filmmaker Paul Poet.
Original theatrical trailer.
English/German audio choice.
Newly created subtitles
