1. April 2000 is a 1952 political satire

Political satire

Political satire is a significant part of satire that specializes in gaining entertainment from politics; it has also been used with subversive intent where political speech and dissent are forbidden by a regime, as a method of advancing political arguments where such arguments are expressly...

 film directed by Wolfgang Liebeneiner

Wolfgang Liebeneiner

Wolfgang Georg Louis Liebeneiner was a German actor, film director and theater director.He was born in Liebau in Prussian Silesia. In 1928, he was taught by Otto Falckenberg, the director of the Munich Kammerspiele, in acting and directing...

 and starring Hilde Krahl

Hilde Krahl

Hilde Krahl was an Austrian film actress. She appeared in 70 films between 1936 and 1994.She was born Hildegard Kolačný in Brod, Austria-Hungary and died in Vienna, Austria...

, made during the Allied Occupation

Allied-administered Austria

The Allied occupation of Austria lasted from 1945 to 1955. Austria had been regarded by Nazi Germany as a constituent part of the German state, but in 1943 the Allied powers agreed in the Declaration of Moscow that it would be regarded as the first victim of Nazi aggression, and treated as a...

 of Austria

Austria

Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...

 (1945-55). The script was reportedly commissioned at the request of the Austrian government, and is a political satire depicting a harmless, potentially congenial future Austria still subject to needless and stifling oversight by the four Allied powers

Allies of World War II

The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...

, as established following the defeat of Nazi Germany

Nazi Germany

Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...

 in World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

 (as it was when the film was made). The film was entered into the 1953 Cannes Film Festival

1953 Cannes Film Festival

-Jury:*Jean Cocteau *Louis Chauvet *Titina De Filippo *Guy Desson *Philippe Erlanger *Renée Faure *Jacques-Pierre Frogerais *Abel Gance *André Lang...

.

Plot summary

After numerous fruitless negotiation

Negotiation

Negotiation is a dialogue between two or more people or parties, intended to reach an understanding, resolve point of difference, or gain advantage in outcome of dialogue, to produce an agreement upon courses of action, to bargain for individual or collective advantage, to craft outcomes to satisfy...

s with the Allies

Allies

In everyday English usage, allies are people, groups, or nations that have joined together in an association for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not explicit agreement has been worked out between them...

 about the independence of Austria

Austria

Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...

, the Austrian prime minister prompts his fellow countrymen to shred their four-language identity cards, which have been issued by the Allies, thus sending a clear signal to the world. Thereupon, Austria is charged for breaking the "world peace

World peace

World Peace is an ideal of freedom, peace, and happiness among and within all nations and/or people. World peace is an idea of planetary non-violence by which nations willingly cooperate, either voluntarily or by virtue of a system of governance that prevents warfare. The term is sometimes used to...

" at the fictitious "world court

World Court

* any of the international courts located in The Hague:**the International Court of Justice , a UN court that settles disputes between nations...

". The implicated message is clear: in the same manner as Austria was, in Austria's eyes, falsely indicted for breaking the world peace (1914 and 1939), they are now being indicted again in 2000.

The world court hovers in with its space rocket into Vienna

Vienna

Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...

 and lands in front of Schönbrunn Palace

Schönbrunn Palace

Schönbrunn Palace is a former imperial 1,441-room Rococo summer residence in Vienna, Austria. One of the most important cultural monuments in the country, since the 1960s it has been one of the major tourist attractions in Vienna...

. The Austrians now have to prove that they are a lovely nation, and that they would never break the world peace. Subsequently, everything which is supposed to make Austria lovely is presented, starting with Mozart, going over Prince Eugene of Savoy

Prince Eugene of Savoy

Prince Eugene of Savoy , was one of the most successful military commanders in modern European history, rising to the highest offices of state at the Imperial court in Vienna. Born in Paris to aristocratic Italian parents, Eugene grew up around the French court of King Louis XIV...

, Empress Maria Theresa of Austria, Viennese wine

Austrian wine

Austrian wines are mostly dry white wines with some luscious dessert wines made around the Neusiedler See. About 30% of the wines are red, made from Blaufränkisch , Pinot Noir and locally bred varieties such as Zweigelt...

, the Viennese waltz

Viennese Waltz

Viennese Waltz is the genre of a ballroom dance. At least three different meanings are recognized. In the historically first sense, the name may refer to several versions of the waltz, including the earliest waltzes done in ballroom dancing, danced to the music of Viennese Waltz.What is now called...

, the mountains, the classic bands, etc. Despite the presented evidence, Austria will be found guilty. Just before the conviction is made, the Moscow Declaration of 1943 is discovered. The declaration clearly states that Austria is to be freed, which happens at the end of the film. Back in the current time of 1952, and in reality, it is bemoaned that those actions and the independence of Austria will not take place until the year 2000.

Cast

Actor	Role
Hilde Krahl Hilde Krahl Hilde Krahl was an Austrian film actress. She appeared in 70 films between 1936 and 1994.She was born Hildegard Kolačný in Brod, Austria-Hungary and died in Vienna, Austria...	President of the Global Union
Josef Meinrad Josef Meinrad Josef Meinrad was an Austrian actor.Josef Meinrad was born Josef Moučka in Vienna, as the fourth and youngest child of the tramdriver Franz Moučka and his second wife Katharina. For his secondary education, he received a scholarship in a school run by Redemptorists in Katzelsdorf near Wiener...	Prime Minister of Austria
Waltraut Haas Waltraut Haas Waltraut Haas is a popular Austrian stage and film actress and singer.Born in Vienna, Haas grew up at Schloss Schönbrunn, where her mother was a restaurateur. Haas made her stage debut in Linz but was soon won over to the big screen...	Mitzi
Judith Holzmeister Judith Holzmeister Judith Maria Holzmeister was an Austrian actress. Her performances included Kunigunde opposite Ewald Balser in Franz Grillparzer's König Ottokars Glück und Ende at the reopening of the famed Vienna Burgtheater in 1955....	Ina Equiquiza
Elisabeth Stemberger	Sekretärin
Ulrich Bettac Ulrich Bettac Ulrich Bettac , born Ulrich Ewald Berthold Bettac, was a German-born Austrian actor and theatre director. He was especially well known for his work as a character actor at the Burgtheater in Vienna; he also had a fairly extensive film career.-Selected filmography:*Mysterious Shadows *1...	Moderator Robinson
Karl Ehmann	Cabinet Chief
Peter Gerhard Peter Gerhard Peter Gerhard was a historical geographer whose work focused on colonial Mexico or New Spain.His works include:*The North Frontier of New Spain*Guide to the Historical Geography of New Spain*Pirates of New Spain, 1575-1742...	Hieronymus Gallup
Curd Jürgens Curd Jürgens Curd Gustav Andreas Gottlieb Franz Jürgens was a German-Austrian stage and film actor. He was usually billed in English-speaking films as Curt Jurgens.-Early life:...	Capitano Herakles
Robert Michal	Wei Yao Chee
Heinz Moog	Hajji Halef Omar
Guido Wieland	Alessandro Bibalini
Paul Hörbiger Paul Hörbiger Paul Hörbiger was an Austrian theatre and film actor.-Life and work:Paul Hörbiger was born in Budapest, the son of Hans Hörbiger, an engineer who wrote Welteislehre on glacial cosmology, and elder brother of actor Attila Hörbiger. In 1902 the family returned to Vienna, while Paul attended the...	Augustin
Hans Moser Hans Moser (actor) Hans Moser was an Austrian actor who, during his long career, from the 1920s up to his death, mainly played in comedy films. He was particularly associated with the genre of the Wiener Film...	Composer
Pepi Glöckner-Kramer
Martha Marbo
Eva Payrer
Erika Pirschl
Erna Schickl
Marianne Schönauer
Alma Seidler Alma Seidler Alma Seidler was an Austrian actress. She was the daughter of Ernst Seidler von Feuchtenegg, and had an extensive stage and screen career.- References :* at Österreich-Lexikon...	Reporterin
Anneliese Stöckl-Eberhard
Hansi Stork
Ingeborg Wieser	Alessandro Vitalini
Karl Bachmann
Theodor Danegger Theodor Danegger Theodor Danegger was an Austrian film actor. He appeared in 73 films between 1932 and 1959.He was born in Lienz, Austria and died in Vienna, Austria.-Selected filmography:* 1. April 2000...	Russ. Hochkommissar
Karl Eidlitz
Hans Frank
Erik Frey Erik Frey Erik Frey was an Austrian film actor. He appeared in over 110 films between 1936 and 1988.He was born and died in Vienna, Austria.-Selected filmography:* Eroica * 1...	Prinz Eugen
Harry Fuß	Franzl
Hugo Gottschlich
Fred Hennings	Deutscher Kaiser
Franz Herterich	Amerik. Hochkommissar
Hans Holt Hans Holt Hans Holt was an Austrian film actor. He appeared in over 100 films between 1935 and 1990.-Selected filmography:* Florentine * Dir zuliebe * 1. April 2000 * Almost Angels...
Fritz Imhoff
Fred Liewehr
Heribert Meisel
Alfred Neugebauer	Finanzminister
Toni Nießner
Hans Richter Hans Richter (actor) Hans Richter was a German film actor. He appeared in over 130 films between 1931 and 1984.He was born in Brandenburg, Germany and died in Heppenheim, Germany.-Selected filmography:* The Black Cobra...	Reporter
Leopold Rudolf
Stefan Skodler
Ernst Stankovski
Otto Treßler Otto Treßler Otto Treßler was a German film actor. He appeared in 43 films between 1915 and 1962.He was born in Stuttgart, Germany and died in Vienna, Austria. He was a close friend to Archduchess Maria Josepha of Austria....	Engl. Hochkommissar
Hans Ziegler Hans Ziegler Hans K. Ziegler was a pioneer in the field of communication satellites and the use of photovoltaic solar cells as a power source for satellites. -Life:Hans Ziegler was born in Munich, Germany...	Franz. Hochkommissar
Kurt Bülau
Rita Gallos
Edith Prager
Helmut Qualtinger Helmut Qualtinger Helmut Qualtinger was an Austrian actor, writer and cabaret performer.-Biography:Helmut Qualtinger was born in Vienna, Austria...
Gerhard Riedmann Gerhard Riedmann Gerhard Riedmann was an Austrian film actor. He was married to the actress Eva Probst.-Selected filmography:* The Beggar Student * The Count of Luxemburg * Trees Are Blooming in Vienna * Waldrausch...	Reitender Bote (uncredited)
Die Wiener Sängerknaben	Singers