Anna Göldin – Letzte Hexe (1992)

The young Anna Göldin begins work as a maid in Dr. Tschudi’s household. The doctor has a large house, a wife, and three children. Dutifully, Anna devotes herself to her tasks in the house and garden and to caring for the children. She lives in a room in the attic and is at the Tschudi family’s disposal around the clock. It is not long before her employer makes unwanted advances, which Anna rebuffs. In town, he had learned that Anna had previously “laid hands on the fruit of her own body.” For this, she had once been put in the pillory and whipped for a day. In 1773, she worked for the Zwicky family in Mollis, when the young master, Melchior, took a liking to Anna. He had sincere feelings for her and even wanted to marry her, but his mother’s class prejudice stood in the way. So they sent the pregnant Anna away to prevent gossip in town. The Tschudis’ eldest daughter likes Anna and becomes jealous when Anna spends time with her siblings. One day, the younger daughter finds pins in her milk. Anna is accused of putting them there. As a result, she is dismissed and has to leave the house after eleven months. Disappointed, Anna goes to stay with a friend in Werdenberg, who is sure Anna will soon be hired again. Until then, she asks Anna to help her, as she has a great deal to do. Meanwhile, Dr. Tschudi brings charges against Anna, because his younger daughter is very ill, and he blames the swallowed pins—and therefore Anna—for her condition. Some people in town are convinced that Tschudi impregnated his maid and now wants to get rid of her at all costs. When Melchior Zwicky learns that his Anna is to be put on trial and is being sought by the authorities, he sends a messenger to warn her. She flees from Werdenberg and hides under a false name in a neighboring town. By now, a reward of 100 Kronen-Thaler has been offered for Anna Göldin’s capture, which eventually leads to her being found and taken back to Glarus. There she is put in chains and threatened with torture unless she makes Tschudi’s daughter well again and lifts the curse that has befallen the child. In her desperation, she agrees to try to help the child if she can. Anne-Miggeli is so delighted to see her Anna again that this alone almost makes her well. Anna also tries to improve the child’s condition with massages, which succeeds. But this only makes her all the more likely to be accused of witchcraft. Dr. Tschudi’s wife is now expecting their fourth child and fears that the witch will take revenge on her. She therefore insists that Anna be taken out of the country. But the council decides to sentence Anna to death by the sword at once. She was executed on June 13, 1782.