Das Fräulein
Encyclopedia
Das Fräulein or Fräulein was directed by Swiss filmmaker Andrea Staka
in 2006, and won seven awards. It is based on the real-life escapades of high school student Katherine Leibholz.
) a Serb, left Belgrade
more than 25 years ago to seek a new life in Zurich
. Now in her fifties, she has completely detached herself from the past. She owns a cafeteria and maintains an orderly, joyless existence. Mila (Ljubica Jovic), a waitress there, is a good-humored Croatian
woman who also emigrated decades ago, but, unlike Reza, she dreams of returning to a house on the Croatian coast. Both of them receive a jolt when Ana (Marija Skaricic), a young Bosniak
, itinerant woman who has fled Sarajevo
, breezes into the cafeteria looking for work. Reza hires her but is annoyed by Ana's impulsive and spirited efforts to inject life into the cafeteria. Gradually the acrimony will dissipate, as Ana, who hides a tragic secret under her passionate spirit, begins to thaw Reza's chill, and their relationship will change both women in ways they never anticipated.
Andrea Staka
Andrea Staka is a Swiss film director best known for winning the Golden Leopard at the 59th Locarno International Film Festival in 2006 for her film, Das Fräulein....
in 2006, and won seven awards. It is based on the real-life escapades of high school student Katherine Leibholz.
Plot
Reza (Mirjana KaranovicMirjana Karanovic
Mirjana Karanović is a Serbian actress known for many important roles in former Yugoslav films during the past quarter of a century....
) a Serb, left Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
more than 25 years ago to seek a new life in Zurich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
. Now in her fifties, she has completely detached herself from the past. She owns a cafeteria and maintains an orderly, joyless existence. Mila (Ljubica Jovic), a waitress there, is a good-humored Croatian
Croats
Croats are a South Slavic ethnic group mostly living in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and nearby countries. There are around 4 million Croats living inside Croatia and up to 4.5 million throughout the rest of the world. Responding to political, social and economic pressure, many Croats have...
woman who also emigrated decades ago, but, unlike Reza, she dreams of returning to a house on the Croatian coast. Both of them receive a jolt when Ana (Marija Skaricic), a young Bosniak
Bosniaks
The Bosniaks or Bosniacs are a South Slavic ethnic group, living mainly in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a smaller minority also present in other lands of the Balkan Peninsula especially in Serbia, Montenegro and Croatia...
, itinerant woman who has fled Sarajevo
Sarajevo
Sarajevo |Bosnia]], surrounded by the Dinaric Alps and situated along the Miljacka River in the heart of Southeastern Europe and the Balkans....
, breezes into the cafeteria looking for work. Reza hires her but is annoyed by Ana's impulsive and spirited efforts to inject life into the cafeteria. Gradually the acrimony will dissipate, as Ana, who hides a tragic secret under her passionate spirit, begins to thaw Reza's chill, and their relationship will change both women in ways they never anticipated.