AllMovie

This picaresque, melancholically-tinged German-language biopic from director Markus Rosenmüller dramatizes the colorful life-story of Mathias Kneissl, one of the most legendary bandits-turned-folk heroes in European history. The time and place in question: Bavaria at the turn of the 20th century. Born into a working-class family with the slimmest of prospects, Mathias has little choice but to turn to a life of crime. By the age of 17, he's involved in illegal poaching of game to enable the day-to-day survival of his family, assisted by his 15-year-old brother Alois and his beloved father. This, alas, ends on a heartbreaking note when gendarmes catch Herr Kneissl in the act and systematically beat him to death; in the process, Alois completely loses his patience, whips out a gun, and shoots one of the officers in the head, injuring him. Tragically, although Matthias had nothing to do with this action, he gets thrown behind bars as an accomplice along with his dear brother, and serves a six-year sentence. Upon release, Matthais makes a sincere and legitimate attempt to go straight - a desire abetted by his relationship with the lovely Mathilde, with whom he settles down. But in time, the officer with the head injury, Forsch, turns up once again, wracked by vengeance and driven by a desire to systematically ruin Mathias's life. In the end, Forsch's efforts prove so successful that Mathias has no choice but to turn back in the direction of crime.