Der Sommer des Falken

At the foot of the Gamskogelwand, Marie, a mountain girl who keeps close company with a wild falcon, meets Rick, a punky teenager from Berlin spending his vacation learning hang gliding with his father. The sleepy alpine village is shaken by the arrival of Herbert Sasse, an eccentric pigeon breeder hunting a missing prize bird, and by Marek Czerny, a shadowy man who wants the falcon's eggs for a hefty sum. As greed, curiosity, and local quirks collide, Marie and Rick are drawn into a dangerous, sometimes funny chase that tests friendships, exposes conflicting values, and centers on protecting wildlife rather than spectacle.

Released in 1988, Der Sommer des Falken is a German adventure film directed by Arend Agthe, featuring Andrea Lösch as Marie and Janos Crecelius as Rick, with Rolf Zacher and Volker Brandt in supporting roles.

Audience responses tend to be positive where the film is known, reflected in a high viewer score on some databases, though based on few votes. The story leans on themes of youthful rebellion versus rural tradition, respect for nature, and the corrupting lure of easy money, with comic relief coming from the eccentric pigeon breeder.

While not a mainstream international title, the movie has a modest niche among fans of late 1980s regional German cinema, thanks to its alpine backdrop and the striking image of the falcon that threads through the plot. Local screenings and retrospective programs sometimes surface the film for viewers interested in offbeat adventure pictures from that era.

There are no records of major awards or high-profile festival wins for Der Sommer des Falken. It did not register on widely recognized award lists, yet its small cast and character-focused storytelling have helped it endure as a quietly appreciated film for those who discover it.