On the International Women’s Day program focus with Maria Hofstätter, Alice Prosser, Markus Schleinzer, Fanny Altenburger, Gina Christof and Julia Wozek
Vienna (OTS) – The brothel owner Regine Riehl was sentenced to three and a half years in prison by the Imperial and Royal Court of Vienna in November 1906. She locked up young prostitutes in her house, exploited them and abused them. One of them, Marie König, dared to rebel and confided in a journalist. His publications trigger a scandal that shakes Viennese society and reveals its double standards. At the same time, Marie König’s revelations shed sharp light on the depths of the global fin de siècle prostitution business.
The moving “Universum History” new production “Uprising in the Brothel – Trafficking in Women Around 1900” by Stefan Ludwig, based on the original trial files, will take place on Tuesday, May 5th as part of the ORF program focus on International Women’s Day (details at presse.ORF.at). March 2024, at 9:05 p.m. on ORF 2 the arc from Vienna via Hamburg to Buenos Aires. The Austrian production with a top-class cast with Maria Hofstätter in the role of Regine Riehl, Alice Prosser as Marie König and Markus Schleinzer as Judge Feigl was created as a co-production by ORF, NDR-ARTE and Geyrhalter Film, funded by the TV Fund Austria and Film Fund Vienna, with the support of VAM and ORF Enterprise.
The 16-year-old Viennese worker’s daughter Marie König runs away from her beating father in the spring of 1902. Shortly afterwards she is approached on Praterstrasse by a matchmaker who takes her to Regine Riehl’s brothel in exchange for a commission. Instead of the promised “self-determined life in wealth,” Marie experiences slavery there: the doors are locked, she doesn’t get any money, and psychological and physical violence is the order of the day. Her father collects a monthly payment from Riehl. Three years later, Marie confides in the journalist Emil Bader, who makes the conditions in the “Salon Riehl” public and takes the brothel owner to court. The Riehl trial, which Karl Kraus also reported on, is stirring up public opinion far beyond Vienna. With a mixture of voyeurism, outrage and pity, the audience takes a detailed look into the living conditions of the “joy girls”.
Marie König is not an isolated case. At that time, the booming metropolis of Vienna was the scene of huge misery and casual prostitution, of which the brothels tolerated by the police were only the tip of the iceberg. Prostitution is illegal, but tolerated: the majority of society sees it as a “necessary evil” for men’s sexual needs. To ensure protection against sexually transmitted diseases, the police monitor prostitutes and force them to undergo regular medical examinations. Feminists are storming against this system of double standards. They want to abolish prostitution instead of regulating it by the state. The debate about morality, prostitution and women’s rights is taking place worldwide. The parallels to today – both in the international debate and in the mechanisms that lead to the exploitation of women – cannot be overlooked.
In “Uprising in the Brothel,” historian Nancy Wingfield points out that some women in prostitution – despite exploitative and violent structures – had options for action and were able to work to improve their situation themselves. For example, by rebelling – like Marie König. Others made their way up within the prostitution system or at some point quietly left the trade, married or switched to other jobs. The end of the Vienna Riehl Trial shows these different paths in life. Riehl is convicted. Marie König leaves prostitution behind her. Others stay, but sue for withheld earnings in civil litigation. One of the women later makes a fortune as a brothel boss. The Riehl trial was more than a scandal. It was a key moment in which women in prostitution publicly stepped out of their role as victims for the first time.
In the reenactments, Maria Hofstätter plays the leading role of Regine Riehl. Markus Schleinzer, who appeared in the sensational TV film “The Wannsee Conference” in 2023, plays Judge Feigl. Alice Prosser as Marie König is a rising young actress who most recently shone in Marie Kreutzer’s film “Corsage”. Fanny Altenburger can be seen in other roles as the defendant Marie Winkler, Gina Christof as the defendant Marie Pokorny and Julia Wozek as the defendant Anna Christ.
Statements about production
Markus Glaser, producer Geyrhalter Film: “Unequal treatment and gender equality are the topics of the moment. Against the background of the #metoo discussion and the retro-revenge of movements all over Europe that want to push back the emancipation of women, ‘Uprising in the Brothel’ is a contemporary, socio-politically relevant and extremely topical film.”
Caroline Haidacher, “Universum History” boss: “With this extraordinary production, “Universum History” gives a voice to those actors who belong to the most discriminated against and invisible groups: sex workers. Of course, they also played a role in Austrian history and triggered a Europe-wide debate through their courage to testify in court. The story of these women must be told; a monument to them – women like Marie König, Marie Pokorny, Marie Winkler, Anna Christ – deserves to be erected. “Also to show how little has changed in some areas of society’s treatment of women in the last 120 years.”
Stefan Ludwig, director: “The Riehl files continue to fascinate me: they are a piece of ‘history from below’, a piece of women’s history and a very rare historical document: here, a brothel operation around 1900, the everyday life of sex workers and the enormous The women’s moral courage is revealed in detail and without make-up. The trial against brothel boss Riehl was a turning point: sex workers no longer put up with intimidation and stigmatization and demanded their rights in court. The trial files tell an impressive story of the hard everyday life in the brothel, but also of courage and solidarity.”
Maria Hofstätter: “This ‘Universe History’ deals with a very exciting trial that took place in 1906: a brothel owner was accused by young prostitutes – and then convicted. For the first time, prostitution was discussed publicly and officially. It’s shocking how little has changed in the last 120 years: debt, slavery and dependencies that make it very difficult for women to get out. Stories like this are happening today just as much as they did back then.”
Markus Schleinzer: “The courage of these women is admirable – and the film is also a story about moral courage: people who had to eke out a living under the most difficult conditions came together and in this way achieved social change. That’s what touches me so much about the story.”
Alice Prosser: “Marie König is a timeless role model for courageous women who defend themselves against a world of oppression. It was a privilege to be able to bring this historical figure to life again! Her story is still relevant: fighting spirit for change in the role of women in the system.”
Details about the “Universum History” production “Uprising in the brothel – trafficking in women around 1900” and the ORF program focus on International Women’s Day are available at presse.ORF.at.