Cast
Christine Neubauer, Francis Fulton-Smith, Stefan Knapp, Johanne von Koczian, August Schmölzer u.v.a.
Team
Director
Peter Sämann
Script
Ulrike Münch und Peter Sämann
Director of Photography
Gero Lasnig
Editor
Christian Bolik
Sound
Johannes Paiha
Production Designer
Albert Jupé
Gaffer
Stefan Gauss
Creative Producer
Ursula Vossen
Producer
Regina Ziegler
TV Editor
Renate Michel, Degeto
Info
Broadcaster
ARD
The Country Doctor
2004
In the picturesque Austrian town of Großraming shooting began on the 21st of September for the turbulent family saga "The Country Doctor" with Christine Neubauer, Francis Fulton-Smith and Johanna von Koczian in the leading roles. The production also features August Schmölzer, Saskia Vester, Judith Richter, Alexander Strobele and Gregor Bloéb.
Together with her little son Max (Stefan Knapp), the successful doctor from Munich Dr. Johanna Lohmann (Christine Neubauer) turns her back on the big city to take over the country practice of her recently diseased uncle in the idyllic town of Großraming. This step isn't entirely voluntary, Johanna's job has just fallen victim to a series of savings cuts. Her Aunt Marie (Johanna von Koczian) receives the young widow and her little boy with open arms. However, the local community reacts in a quite different way: they had been expecting a man as a worthy successor to the village doctor, not this confident young woman from the city. On top of everything else, Johanna manages to turn the stubborn landowner Leo Bergmeier (August Schmölzer), the most influential man in town, against her as soon as she arrives. He more or less forbids the inhabitants to enter her surgery - and as a consequence Johanna's waiting room remains empty. And when Johanna manages to save the lives of three small children, including the daughter of the local dairy owner, Randler (Alexander Strobele), far from being met with gratitude this action becomes the object of suspicion. It is claimed that she herself poisoned the children's milk so she could worm her way into the confidence of the villagers by rescuing them. Only when Johanna succeeds in tracking down the person who really did poison the milk, with the help of the likeable vet Dr. Laurenz Hofer (Francis Fulton-Smith) - the only person who stands by her in her hour of need - is she able to get the people of Großraming on her side. Her battle against the resistance of the locals has, however, accomplished one good thing: it has brought Johanna and Laurenz closer together. But at this point Leo Bergmeier’s daughter Verena (Judith Richter) lashes out with a devastating blow which Johanna could have had no way of predicting...
“The Country Doctor” is a coproduction from Ziegler Film (producer: Regina Ziegler) and Wega Film (producer: Veit Heiduschka) and ARD Degeto for Channel One. The production is directed by Peter Sämann, the cameraman is Gero Lasnig, and the script is written by Ulrike Münch and Peter Sämann. It is directed by Renate Michel (ARD Degeto). The program is made with the support of the state of Upper Austria and the Austrian Television Fund.
This DVD is available commercially.
