TV premiere on March 5th at 9:05 p.m. on ORF 2
Vienna (OTS) – November 1906: The brothel owner Regine Riehl was sentenced to three and a half years in prison by the kk regional court in Vienna. She locked up young prostitutes in her house, exploited them and abused them. One of them, Marie König, dared to rebel and confided in a journalist. His publications trigger a scandal that shakes Viennese society and reveals its double standards. At the same time, Marie König’s revelations shed sharp light on the depths of the global fin de siècle prostitution business. The moving “Universum History” new production “Uprising in the Brothel – Trafficking in Women Around 1900” by Stefan Ludwig, based on the original trial files, will be part of the ORF program focus on International Women’s Day on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at 9:05 p.m. on ORF 2 the arc from Vienna via Hamburg to Buenos Aires. The Austrian production with a top-class cast with Maria Hofstätter in the role of Regine Riehl, Alice Prosser as Marie König and Markus Schleinzer as Judge Feigl was created as a co-production by ORF, –ARTE and Geyrhalter Film, funded by the TV Fund Austria and Film Fund Vienna, with the support of VAM and ORF Enterprise.
The ORF and Geyrhalter Film invited people to the presentation of the film today, Friday, February 23rd, at the Filmhaus Kino am Spittelberg in Vienna. In conversation with “Universum History” editor Judith Brandner, in the presence of ORF general director Mag. Roland Weißmann, Markus Glaser, producer Geyrhalter Film, “Universum History” broadcast manager Caroline Haidacher, director Stefan Ludwig as well as historians Gudrun Wolfgruber-Thanel and Maral Sayan explained , deputy head of the LEFÖ association – intervention center for those affected by trafficking in women, the history and significance of the documentation. Claudia Cellarius, head of the -/ARTE department, and the actors Gina Christof, Fanny Altenburger, Julia Wozek and Clemens Aap Lindenberg also took part in the event.
Markus Glaser, producer Geyrhalter Film: “Unequal treatment and gender equality are the topics of the moment. Against the background of the #metoo discussion and the retro-revenge of movements all over Europe that want to push back the emancipation of women, ‘Uprising in the Brothel’ is a contemporary, socio-politically relevant and extremely topical film.”
Caroline Haidacher, ORF broadcaster “Universum History”:
“With this extraordinary production, ‘Universum History’ gives a voice to those actors who belong to the most discriminated against and invisible groups: sex workers. Of course, they also played a role in Austrian history and triggered a Europe-wide debate through their courage to testify in court. The story of these women must be told; a monument to them – women like Marie König, Marie Pokorny, Marie Winkler, Anna Christ – deserves to be erected. “Also to show how little has changed in some areas of society’s treatment of women in the last 120 years.”
Stefan Ludwig, director: “The Riehl files continue to fascinate me: they are a piece of ‘history from below’, a piece of women’s history and a very rare historical document: here, a brothel operation around 1900, the everyday life of sex workers and the enormous The women’s moral courage is revealed in detail and without make-up. The trial against brothel boss Riehl was a turning point: sex workers no longer put up with intimidation and stigmatization and demanded their rights in court. The trial files tell an impressive story of the hard everyday life in the brothel, but also of courage and solidarity.”
Further statements about production:
Maria Hofstätter: “It’s shocking how little has changed in the last 120 years: debt, slavery and dependencies that make it very difficult for women to get out. Stories like this are happening today just as much as they did back then.”
Markus Schleinzer: “The courage of these women is admirable – and the film is also a story about moral courage: people who had to eke out a living under the most difficult conditions came together and in this way achieved social change. That’s what touches me so much about the story.”
Alice Prosser: “Marie König is a timeless role model for courageous women who defend themselves against a world of oppression. It was a privilege to be able to bring this historical figure to life again! Her story is still relevant: fighting spirit for change in the role of women in the system.”
Details about the “Universum History” production “Uprising in the brothel – trafficking in women around 1900” and the ORF program focus on International Women’s Day are available at presse.>.
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