The Soldier

German working title: Der Soldat
in development, 93 minutes

In financing

Completion planned:
January 2028

ABOUT THE FILM

History doesn’t repeat itself – or does it?

To answer this question, director Marko Doringer traces the footsteps of his late grandfather. The filmmaker visits the places of his childhood and youth in inter-war Austria. His lifeline takes him back to the beginnings of World War II, and he follows the route of his Wehrmacht unit across present-day Poland.

In the course of his personal journey of discovery, Marko Doringer pours through historical archives, comes across the testimonies from contemporary witnesses and analyses his own family history. Together with his grandfather’s unvarnished private photos, a complex cosmos of fears of decline and promises of redemption unfolds – all of which culminates in the world’s greatest crime against humanity. What can we learn from his grandfather’s life story? And why is coming to terms with his past so difficult?

The story of THE SOLDIER pertains to a particular time and place but has universal human import. The film is a journey into the darkest corners of human history – and back to our present. A timely film about the exclusion of minorities, about the susceptibility of people to seduction and about the resurgence of resentment.

The film is currently in the financing stage.

Route during the Poland Campaign of September 1939

MORE INFO

  • FACTS

    IN FINANCING

    Length:
    93 minutes

    Original languages:
    German, Czech, Polish

    Versions:
    OwS German, OwS English

    German working title:
    Der Soldat

    Former working title:
    The Roll (German: Die Semmel)

  • CREDITS

    writer, director & camera: Marko Doringer
    script consultant: Andres Veiel
    historical advice: Jochen Boehler
    as well as Florian Kotanko and Johannes Hofinger
    assistant director: Jola Wieczorek, Erika Badalyan

    production manager: Patrick Merkle
    green film consultant: Marion Rossmann
    camera: Joerg Burger
    second camera: Marko Doringer
    sound: Andreas Hamza, Tong Zhang
    editing: tba
    sound design: Veronika Hlawatsch
    re-recording mix: Alexander Koller
    color correction: Klaus Pamminger

    Legal advice: Constantin Kletzer
    Website: Gerhard Roider | roider.at
    producer: Marko Doringer | Filmfabrik

Project Partners

script development funded by

Austrian Film Institute

PROJECT development funded by

Austrian Film Institute
Filmfonds Vienna

PRODUCED BY

Filmfabrik Marko Doringer film production
© Austria 2023/2024

FUNDING AGENCIES & PROJECT PARTNERS