Burning Secret

"To capture the mother's heart, take the child's hand."

1988 1h 46m EN

😐

5.9

MID

★5.9TMDB · 14

Drama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

While recuperating in a sanatorium in the mountains, a young boy becomes very close friends with an older baron. But the baron is only using the boy to get to know his mother, the wife of an older diplomat. When the boy realises the baron’s intentions, he becomes jealous, moody and depressed.

“To capture the mother's heart, take the child's hand.”

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Cast

David Eberts
Edmund
Faye Dunaway
Sonya
Klaus Maria Brandauer
Baron
Ian Richardson
Edmund's Father
John Nettleton
Doctor Weiss
Martin Obernigg
Concierge
Václav Štekl
Assistant Concierge
Vladimír Pospíšil
Hotel Manager

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Andrew Birkin
Writers: Andrew Birkin
Languages: German, English
Countries: United Kingdom, Germany

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

38 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 2 languages: German, English.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: United Kingdom, Germany.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Andrew Birkin, shot by Ernest Day. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Hans Zimmer. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Paul Green shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

CAST

Did you know

David Eberts and Faye Dunaway and Klaus Maria Brandauer carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Andrew Birkin directs. Ernest Day behind the camera. Hans Zimmer scores. Paul Green cuts. Produced in United Kingdom, Germany. Dialogue in German, English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

138 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2Dialogue crosses 2 languages: German, English.
3International production across 2 countries: United Kingdom, Germany.
4Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
5Directed by Andrew Birkin, shot by Ernest Day. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
6Original score by Hans Zimmer. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
7Editor Paul Green shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
8David Eberts and Faye Dunaway and Klaus Maria Brandauer carry the top of the cast.
9Marketing tagline: "To capture the mother's heart, take the child's hand.".
10IMDB entry: tt0094816 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
11Only 14 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.