A village full of secrets: Anja's dangerous search for the truth!

A village full of secrets: Anja's dangerous search for the truth!

In the picturesque Upper Palatinate, where green forests and small villages characterize the picture, an exciting story unfolds that gets under your skin. The film“The forest stands silent”, which will be released on April 22, 2025 BR television is broadcast, tells the gripping story of the young forestry student Anja Grimm, played by Henriette Confurius. In the last years of the 90s, Anja did an internship at the Neustadt Forestry Office, in a place that was more than just a job for her. Her father disappeared in this region under mysterious circumstances when she was still a child.

From the beginning you can feel the dislike of the villagers, who treat Anja with skepticism and hostility. As she tries to solve the mystery of her father's disappearance, the tension increases. In the middle of Anja's research, a murder occurs that throws the entire village into turmoil and puts her in great danger. With this adaptation of a novel, director Saralisa Volm and screenwriter Wolfram Fleischhauer have created a captivating drama that illuminates the shadows of the past.

A village mystery

The film's plot shows what is often hidden in rural communities. In German villages, which are often considered safe and worth living in, sometimes darker things happen that remain unexplored. An aspect that the Federal Agency for Civic Education highlights is that perceptions of security in rural areas are often characterized by high levels of cohesion and informal social control. However, there are problems bubbling beneath the surface here too.

The motto in rural villages seems to be that you know your neighbors and stand up for each other. This means that crime is often considered to be lower than in urban regions. But as Anja's story shows, appearances are deceptive. Their investigations open doors to mysteries that go beyond everyday life and uncover the dark history of the final months of World War II. One could almost say that everyone has their own story and the truth often has several faces.

Characters in focus

In addition to Anja, we also meet other fascinating characters in the film. Rupert Gollas, played by Noah Saavedra, is not an easy companion, and Gustav Dallmann, played by August Zirner, is another piece of the puzzle in Anja's search for the truth. The roles are supported by a strong ensemble cast that enhances the emotional depth of the story. The personal fates intertwine and create a dense network of secrets and intrigue.

The musical accompaniment by Malakoff Kowalski contributes to the atmosphere of the film and immerses the audience in the mysterious world. The scenery of the Upper Palatinate is staged with images by Roland Stuprich and conveys a feeling of familiarity and yet threat. This film production is more than just a drama; it makes us reflect on our own perceptions of security and what remains hidden beneath the surface.

How will Anja deal with the hostile attitude of the villagers? And what secret is waiting to be discovered? The film“The forest stands silent”is sure to provide some answers while raising questions that are relevant beyond the screen.

For more information about the film and its broadcast, visit ARD media library.