Glassblower, The2016

Director
Christiane Balthasar

Actors

Luise Heyer (Johanna Steinmann)
Maria Ehrich (Marie Steinmann)
Franz Dinda (Thomas Heimer)
Dirk Borchardt (Friedhelm Strobel)
Robert Gwisdek (Peter Maienbaum)
Max Hopp (Wilhelm Heimer)

Marie violates all traditions after the death of her parents. To feed herself and her sisters, she becomes the first female glassblower in the small town of Lauscha in 1890, and her artful glassy Christmas balls find themselves in America.
As women, the two sisters Johanna and Marie are barred from continuing their father’s glassblowing trade upon his untimely death. Sustaining their hopes of following in his footsteps, at first they go their separate ways in order to learn their craft and put food on the table, but each encounters the brutality of an industry and society dominated by men. Taking charge of their own destinies, they ultimately seek and achieve emancipation and the right to resurrect their father’s workshop.
“’The Glassblower’ can certainly be called a successful Christmas movie. Hannes Hunbach (cinematographer) uses lighting with great sensibility. The high-quality set, costume, and makeup design provide convincing support to the actors, whom director Christiane Balthasar guides with assurance.” – Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
“Christiane Balthasar’s drama impresses with its excellent, realistic visual language and is superbly cast: the two leading actresses, Luise Heyer and Maria Ehrich, take full command of the film.” – Tittelbach.tv
 “Lavishly produced and visually impressive.” – Film Dienst