Brother Klaus

“Brother Klaus” takes an approach to St. Niklaus von Flüe (1417-1487) on various levels. From the sparse evidence and quotations from his surviving mystical texts, especially the tower and well vision, a portrait emerges of a multi-faceted personality of historical relevance, who developed from a farmer and politician into a deeply religious mystic. This is a film about a visionary who went his own way, but who has been labeled by posterity as a defensive father of the country (“spiritual national defence”) or a pacifist (peace movement), but who has also often been kitsched into a devotional figure. The film director does not deny his point of view, but lets the images speak for themselves and the viewers draw their own conclusions.

Director

Edwin Beeler

Released

December 1, 1991

Language

German