The Sinner is a 1951 West German romantic drama film directed by Willi Forst and starring Hildegard Knef, Gustav Fröhlich and Änne Bruck. It was shot at the Bendestorf Studios and on location in Naples, Rome and Positano. The film's sets were designed by the art director Franz Schroedter.

Plot

It is a love story between the prostitute Marina and the unsuccessful artist Alexander, who suffers from a cancer which makes him blind and ill. They are happy for a short period in Italy. Despite Marina's loving care, Alexanders health gets worse and they together commit suicide in the end.

Scandal

It was one of the first German films to break several taboos: nudity, suicide and euthanasia. In the Germany of the 1950s, this caused a lot of negative reactions both by politicians and the Roman Catholic Church as well as parts of the Protestant church. The widespread opposition culminated in ultimately unsuccessful calls for a ban of the film, which paradoxically gave it a prominent place in German film history. Despite or because of the scandal, Die Sünderin proved to be the breakthrough role of Hildegard Knef.

Cast

Notes and references