''Nesthäkchen'' is a German television series directed by , which was broadcast as the fifth Christmas series of the
ZDF 1983. It is based on
Else Ury
Else Ury (1 November 1877 – 13 January 1943) was a German-Jewish novelist and children's book author. Her best-known character is the blonde doctor's daughter Annemarie Braun, whose life from childhood to old age is told in the ten volumes of th ...
's novels ''
Nesthäkchen and Her Dolls
A ''Nesthäkchen'' is the youngest child in a family. Else Ury's ''Nesthäkchen'' is a Berlin doctor's daughter, Annemarie Braun, a slim, golden blond, quintessential German girl. The ten-book :de:Nesthäkchen (Kinderbuchreihe), ''Nesthäkchen'' ...
'' (1913), ''
Nesthäkchen's First School Year
''Nesthäkchen's First School Year'' is the second book in the Nesthäkchen series, written by Else Ury. Nesthäkchen is a Berlin doctor's daughter, Anne Marie Braun, a slim, golden blond, quintessential German girl. The series follows Annemarie ...
'' (1915), and ''
Nesthäkchen in the Children's Sanitorium'' (1915/1921). The story revolves around Annemarie Braun, who is called Nesthäkchen, the youngest child of a doctor's family. Annemarie grows up with her brothers Hans and Klaus in Berlin during the imperial era shortly before the First World War.
Story
The television series starts in Berlin in the early 20th century. Dr. Ernst Braun is a respected doctor. He and his wife Elsbeth have a Prussian marriage and educate their children in the virtues of the imperial era. Annemarie is the youngest of the three children (two older sons) and is the darling of the father, who is quite caring. The family lives in a spacious apartment in
Charlottenburg.
Charlottenburg Palace forms the title motif of the opening credits. Other family members are the grandma, the nanny Lena, and household servants.
Annemarie has a happy childhood with all the benefits of the upper middle class. She has many dolls, and her father lets her frequently misbehave. For example, she often uses the swear word "Donnerknispel" without being scolded. One day, when she throws her father's new barometer off the wall, her father forgives her; instead of punishing her, he explains to Annemarie how the instrument works. A holiday with her uncle Heinrich and Aunt Käthe on a farm in Bavaria is also portrayed. Afterwards, the rural influence on the children is obvious. Mother soon restores proper behavior. Annemarie's friend and nanny Lena sleeps in Annemarie's room. After Annemarie disobediently walks on the street with other children and even gets into trouble in a simple Berlin backyard, Lena recommends sending Annemarie to a kindergarten. In kindergarten, Annemarie is the smartest of the children, who all come from upscale homes. Later, at grade school, Annemarie is the best pupil, which especially pleases her father. Her report card prompts her father to praise her.
In her schooldays Annemarie gets
scarlet fever
Scarlet fever, also known as Scarlatina, is an infectious disease caused by ''Streptococcus pyogenes'' a Group A streptococcus (GAS). The infection is a type of Group A streptococcal infection (Group A strep). It most commonly affects childr ...
and travels to
Amrum for a cure in a children's sanitorium. There she experiences adventures with the dangerous
Wadden Sea
The Wadden Sea ( nl, Waddenzee ; german: Wattenmeer; nds, Wattensee or ; da, Vadehavet; fy, Waadsee, longname=yes; frr, di Heef) is an intertidal zone in the southeastern part of the North Sea. It lies between the coast of northwestern conti ...
and the kind-hearted sanitorium director Mrs. Clarsen, a captain's widow. During Annemarie's stay, the First World War breaks out, and she returns to Berlin with great difficulty. A happy reunion ensues, but the advent of the World War has a tragic effect on the family: The older brother wants to volunteer for the navy. Dr Braun wears the field-gray coat of a medical officer under his doctor's white coat.
The story continues in Ury's books, which recount almost all of Annemarie's life: her teenage years, her university studies, her marriage, and even her first great-grandchild.
Production
*Annemarie is portrayed by two young actresses to indicate aging. The actors playing brothers Klaus and Hans and school friend Margot also are played by two actors or actresses.
*The six episodes of the ZDF Christmas program (1983) had twelve million viewers.
*Nesthäkchen was the first directorial work of , son of
Heinz Erhardt
Heinz Erhardt (; 20 February 1909 – 5 June 1979) was a German comedian, musician, entertainer, actor, and poet.
Life
Heinz Erhardt was born in Riga, the son of Baltic German Kapellmeister Gustav Erhardt. He lived most of his childhood at his g ...
.
*The series was elaborately produced with many outdoor shots and extras, all of which had to be adapted to the time.
Video Release
The series has been released on VHS and DVD. In January and May 2005 DVDs were released with three episodes. In October 2009 a new edition of the DVDs, a complete boxed set, contained all six episodes.
Corinna Berghahn. VOR 29 JAHREN IM ZDF. Legendäre Fernsehserie: „Nesthäkchen“ verzauberte das Publikum. Neue OZ 14 Dec 2012 (in German)
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See also
* List of German television series
External links
*
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nesthakchen (TV series)
1983 German television series debuts
1983 German television series endings
Television series set in the 1900s
Television series set in the 1910s
ZDF original programming
German children's television series
Television shows based on children's books
German-language television shows