1810 - FÜR EINE HANDVOLL KASPRESSKNÖDL

What if a German had been largely responsible for the Tyrolean struggle for freedom ever taking place!

The cabaret duo "Die Schienentröster" explore this idea further and write a new story in which "Alldie", a German foundling who grows up in Tyrol and is drawn into the turmoil of the 1809 fight for freedom, becomes a fictional freedom hero in a foreign land.

Not one Kaspressknödl is left unturned, and there is no shortage of digs at Napoleon and his Frenchmen. A film full of bizarre stories, black humour and knee-slappers in classic Schienentröster style, packed with suspense, surprises and quotes from the odd cult film.

The Tyrolean cabaret duo "Die Schienentröster", alias Harald HALLER and Daniel LENZ, was founded in 1998. They are known for their extreme physical commitment on stage and their gift for slipping into different roles in a split second. They have won several renowned cabaret awards, including the Grazer Kleinkunstpanther, the Kärntner Kleinkunstdrache, the Steyrer Kleinkunstpreis, the Goldener Wiener Kleinkunstnagel and the Stuttgarter Hölzerner Kleinkunstbesen. Their current fourth show is called "Erfolg-LOS!" and is being performed SUCCESSfully all over Austria.

After four shows, a satirical parenting guide and several comedy productions on ZZAPP.tv, this year "Die Schienentröster" shot the minimental (= the opposite of monumental) production "1810 - FÜR EINE HANDVOLL KASPRESSKNÖDL" as a full-length feature film!

Probably the most moving parody of the Tyrolean struggle for freedom against Napoleon ...

PRESS
KRONENZEITUNG (8 January 2011)

FEATURE FILM SHAKES THE HOFER MYTH
The cabaret duo "Schienentröster" pokes fun at the Tyrolean struggle for freedom. A daring venture in the Holy Land of Tyrol? The cabaret artists had to make do with just 15,000 euros for the project.
In this film, not one stone is left standing on the historic stage of the Bergisel ....Die Schienentröster promise: "One taboo broken after another." Black humour, bizarre stories ... await the audience.
That the film was made at all is thanks to the persistence of the two Tyroleans. They had the idea as early as 2002. It was meant to come out in 2009, to coincide with the commemorative year. But for a long time their script found no sponsors - neither public nor private. Finally, one last attempt: the money was to come via the internet. For 15 euros, people could "donate" one second of film through their website. Many thousands of clicks later, they had raised 15,000 euros. Still hardly a sum, considering that low-budget films start at 200,000 euros. "We made a 'non-budget film'", they joke. Then they still needed actors, props, technicians and more. "We couldn't promise any fees." Lenz and Haller were lucky. People liked their project. ....

KRONENZEITUNG (20 January 2011)

A NOT ENTIRELY SERIOUS HOFER
What if "our" freedom hero Andreas Hofer had been German? The cabaret duo "Die Schienentröster" gives the answer in their cinema comedy. Fits of laughter guaranteed!
On the Bergisel not one Kaspressknödl is left unturned: the Hofer myth, the Schützen, Tyrolean history, other films and much more are sent up by the Schienentröster in their first feature film.
On 18 January 2011 it was shown for the first time to all of the nearly 400 helpers and "volunteer" actors. "Volunteer", because the two producers couldn't promise any fees. "Just the chance to take part in what we hope is a funny film project", says Daniel Lenz. And yet it worked out.

TIROLER TAGESZEITUNG (21 February 2011)
Hofer spoof comes to cinemas nationwide

When it's going well, it's going well. That sums up this film's winning streak. So far it has drawn 6,000 viewers into cinemas. The Vienna premiere is now set for late March or early April.
And that's not all: afterwards the film will gradually be shown in all of Austria's federal states. It is also official that it will be broadcast on ORF.
With great personal commitment, the "Schienentröster" realised their ambitious "no budget" project. Cine Tirol, the film funding body of Tirol Werbung, gave no money; the provincial culture department gave 1,500 euros. With the unusual strategy of turning every generous supporter into a producer through a small donation, the dream came true.