Drama · Germany · 1979 · 1h 35m

Sisters, or The Balance of Happiness

Schwestern oder Die Balance des Glücks

Director

Cast

Jutta Lampe as Maria Sundermann Gudrun Gabriel as Anna Sundermann Konstantin Wecker as Robert Edelschneider Agnes Fink as Mutter Sundermann Heinz Bennent as Münzinger Fritz Lichtenhahn as Fritz

Crew

Franz Rath — Director of Photography Annette Dorn — Editor Wolfgang Bächler — Writer Luisa Francia — Writer Margarethe von Trotta — Writer Martje Grohmann — Writer

Synopsis

Sisters Maria and Anna live together. Maria is a most proficient executive secretary, encouraging Anna to finish her studies and start a career. Anna broods, threatens to quit university, takes pills, and keeps a diary. When Maria's relationship with Maurice, the son of her boss, starts to lead to love, Anna takes a selfish and drastic step that plummets Maria into solitude. No longer able to connect with Maurice, Maria does establish a relationship with Miriam, a typist at her office who becomes a surrogate younger sister. But Maria is intrusive as well as helpful. Can this or any relationship work out for this talented woman whose past seems to choke her soul?

Mood & Themes

woman director

Key Collaborators

Margarethe von Trotta Director Franz Rath Director of Photography Annette Dorn Editor Wolfgang Bächler Writer Luisa Francia Writer Margarethe von Trotta Writer Martje Grohmann Writer Eberhard Junkersdorf Producer

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