Set in Nazi Germany, it follows Hella Lindau, a devoted anti-fascist who is arrested in 1934 and sentenced to ten years in prison for her resistance activities. Enduring harsh conditions and near-total isolation as one of the few political prisoners, Hella finds strength in the enduring love she shares with her fiancé, Hermann. Their bond becomes her emotional anchor, helping her survive the long years of oppression and confinement.
The film is based on two semi‑autobiographical novels by German resistance fighter Eva Lippold: Haus der schweren Tore and Leben, wo gestorben wird, originally planned as a trilogy
It won the Crystal Globe at the 1980 Karlovy Vary International Film Festival and was East Germany’s official submission to the 53rd Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film—though it ultimately wasn’t nominated.
The Fiancée was produced by DEFA, the state‑owned studio of East Germany, and became one of the most acclaimed antifascist resistance films in GDR cinema.
