Das Geheimnis des roten Hauses

Set around the turn of the century in Thuringia, this drama follows Eva Hermsdorf, who takes a post as a governess in the court of Count Rudolph von Plessen. An instant, forbidden chemistry blossoms between them, but a charged accusation shadows their bond. Rudolph is said to have killed a former lover's companion, a claim Eva suspects hides a deeper plot. To uncover the truth she disguises herself as Liliane's servant and travels to Leipzig. As she digs, danger closes in and only Rudolph's protection can keep her from those who would harm her.

Directed by Jörg Grünler this 2005 German drama adapts a tale by Hedwig Courths-Mahler and Silke Zertz. The story places its romance and intrigue in late imperial Germany, with a careful period look that supports the emotional stakes. The cast includes Tim Bergmann as Rudolph von Plessen, Pauline Knof as Eva Hermsdorf, Paula Kalenberg as Hella von Plessen, Maximilian von Pufendorf as Hans Trachwitz, and Natalia Wörner as Liliane Clermont.

Box office data for this title is not readily available in standard databases, which often means a limited release or television airing rather than a wide cinematic run.

Awards: there are no major nominations or wins listed for this title in prominent award databases. The film appears to have been a modest project that did not attract industry recognition on the scale of Germanys best known period dramas.

Reception & themes: Reception centers on the tense romance set against a backdrop of class constraints and family power. Critics note the steady pacing, the muted emotional undercurrents, and the performances of Tim Bergmann as Rudolph and Natalia Wörner as Liliane Clermont, which give the story its gravity. Thematically the film looks at trust and loyalty under social pressure, the way rumors shape fate, and the danger that lies in secrets kept in grand houses. The mood is lush without becoming indulgent, letting quiet moments carry crucial twists of character.