She chose glory over love—then a horse died and her conscience finally showed up fashionably late.
Silvia and her boyfriend Lutz, both aged twenty, work as jockeys at a big racing stable and have their whole life in front of them. But while Lutz would like to get married and start a family, Silvia only thinks of her career. When she meets the charming veterinarian Clemens, her relationship with Lutz seems to come to an end. Driven by her burning ambition, Silvia causes an accident one day in which her favorite horse dies. Only now, the young woman seems to come to her senses. Silvia realizes that she must face criticism and scrutinize her selfish actions.
Acting
Ulrike Mai commits fully to Silvia's maddening self-absorption.
Production
Authentic East German racing stable atmosphere, horses surprisingly well-shot.
Director
Claus Dobberke
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Platz oder Sieg? emerged from DEFA, East Germany's state film studio, which frequently produced 'problem films' addressing social issues through melodrama while maintaining socialist values.
Director Claus Dobberke was primarily a cinematographer; this was one of his rare directing credits, explaining the visual competence and narrative heavy-handedness.
XG
