The Wild Duck

Story

Synopsis

Consul Werle holds a reception in honour of the homecoming of his son Gregers. At the reception, Gregers meets his childhood friend, Hjalmar Ekdal, who is married to Gina, a former maid of the Werle family. Hjalmar is unaware that Werle had an affair with Gina and that their 14-year-old daughter Hedwig is not his child. Gregers moves in with the Ekdals with the intention of allowing unsuspecting Hjalmar and his family to share in the "happiness of truth". Hedwig is entirely devoted to a wild duck, which lives on a pond outside their house. When Hjalmar learns the truth about his daughter, he wants to leave his family. Gregers advises Hedwig to kill the wild duck so that her father, impressed by this sacrifice, will return home. On the following day, Hedwig's birthday, she doesn't shoot the duck, but shoots herself instead.

Director

Hans W. Geißendörfer

Writers

Hans W. Geißendörfer, Henrik Ibsen

Language

German

Country

Austria, Germany

Release date

1 September 1976

Ensemble

Cast

• 

  Bruno Ganz

  Gregers Werle

• 

  Peter Kern

  Hjalmar Ekdal

• 

  Anne Bennent

  Hedvig, seine Tochter

• 

  Jean Seberg

  Gina Ekdal, seine Frau

• 

  Martin Flörchinger

  Alter Ekdal

• 

  Heinz Moog

  Konsul Werle

• 

  Heinz Bennent

  Dr. Relling

• 

  Sonja Sutter

  Frau Sörby

• Robert Werner

  Molvik

• 

  Guido Wieland

  Pettersen

• Uwe Falkenbach

  Der Kahle

• Erich Aberle

  der Dicke