Das höchste Gut einer Frau ist ihr Schweigen (1980)
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A woman recounts the challenges of building a family life as an Italian migrant worker in Frankfurt.
The story
Maria M. grows up in the village of Aliano in Lucania, Italy, and marries Giacomo against her parents’ wishes. The couple begin their life together in Frankfurt am Main in the late 1960s. In voice-over, Maria recounts their experiences as they establish themselves, including the birth of their four children and their search for housing and work. Their story also reflects the everyday life of migrant workers, as the family faces the challenges of adapting to a new social and economic environment.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
The introduction presents the main protagonist, Maria M., her life in her home village of Aliano (Lucania, Italy), her marriage to Giacomo against her parents’ wishes, and the beginning of their life together in Frankfurt am Main in the late 1960s. Then, in voice-over, the protagonist recounts her life as a couple, the birth of their four children, their search for housing and work, and, more generally, the everyday life of migrant workers. Maria, her family, and those around her are portrayed by amateur actors who are themselves of Italian immigrant origin. The film thus highlights cultural uprooting, the difficulties of integration into social and economic life, and the double burden of being both a mother and a worker.
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Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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