30-minute documentary for MDR – Thüringen Exklusiv and 3sat
- Screenplay: Anna Schmidt, Dirk Schneider
- Director: Anna Schmidt, Dirk Schneider
- Camera: Thomas Koppehele
- Sound: Harry Carius
- Editing: Mario Biehl
His Highness is Back
A FILM BY ANNA SCHMIDT
For centuries their families determined the fate of Thuringia. Today they are back: the heirs of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, Saxe-Meiningen and Reuss. A rented flat instead of a castle, a forester’s house instead of a residence, civic spirit instead of feudal power. What does the nobility want today? “His Highness is Back”.
The shoot took place in spring 2004 in Thuringia, where the nobility has taken up residence once again. Castle inaugurations, questions about restitution claims, marvelling at old trees in the forest with Prince Michael of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, trees beneath which Goethe once walked. Chatting over coffee with Princess Feodora of Reuss and former servants about the old days at the Gera theatre. The Highnesses shed light on more than half a century of German history.
