Der Lügner

Very charming and honest film about the love between a father (Heinz Rühmann) and his 10 year old daughter. Vajda's direction of the cast is excellent, but he was not always the best film director. Also this film is nicely put together with the best craftsmanship, but there is always too much a feeling of a staged play. Minuses are fully compensated by the story material and Vajda's treatment of it in which he avoids any sentimentality. The cast is good too and excellent Heinz Rühmann fits the part; the interaction between him and the 10 year old charming Julia Follina is perfect and very natural. Good cinematography by Günther Anders.

The film contains also a comment - albeit a slight one - on the West German Economic Miracle. At one moment the Rühmann character says that only 1 out of 3 people can really profit; for keeping his head above financial water he has to sell half of his furnishing. There is strong competition between the children as to how much money and luxury their respective parents have. This aspect combined with the love story is what the theme of the film is: the Rühmann character ultimately gives the most to his daughter.