From children's dream to the golden bear: the Thalia in Offenbach

From children's dream to the golden bear: the Thalia in Offenbach

In Offenbach, where the ruins of the Second World War are still visible, a creative revolution blooms in the early 1950s. A group of young people, led by the then 15-year-old Hans Sachs, founded the "Thalia" film company and becomes the latest film crew in Germany. While the adults are busy reconstruction, the boys put their visions into practice and bring the bombed city to life with their films.

The "Thalia" quickly becomes a topic of conversation when the young filmmakers take the first steps into the world of the film with an improvisation talent and a good dose of courage. "We wanted to play a bit with the film, just like the other boy did with football," recalls Sachs. With a borrowed 16 millimeter camera and a modest budget of 40 marks, they turn their first works, including "Emil and the detectives". But the way to fame is not easy: once you even have to ask the police for permission after filming a scene before the police directorate without having the necessary permits.

The rise of the Thalia

The seriousness and passion of the Thalia crew pay off. With films such as "The Wild Hunting" and "In the Kingdom of Youth", they soon gained national attention. In 1957, "Catalan impressions" was broadcast on TV, and the Offenbach post cheered: "The Thalia has made it." Hans Sachs, the creative head, later moves to Munich, where he causes a sensation internationally and in 1977 the golden bear at the Berlinale wins for his film "out of alien".

His life's work is characterized by a deep sense of the world around him. His last film, "crank child", tells the story of a boy who discovers the world through the camera - a suitable symbol of Sachs' own journey. On September 30, 2024, at the age of 90, Hans Sachs dies, but leaves a heir that has had a lasting impact on film culture.