Mother Hulda

Original title: Frau Holle

Once upon a time, a widow had two daughters: the lazy and wicked Blackmarie, her own beloved child, and the hardworking and kind Blondmarie, her despised stepdaughter. One day, Blondmarie—who was made to do all the housework—drops her spindle into the well, which had become stained with blood. When she leaps in after it, she finds herself in Mother Hulda’s otherworldly realm. There, Blondmarie diligently shakes out the old woman’s bedding, making it snow all over the world, and helps her with the housework. As a reward, Mother Hulda showers her with gold. Envious of her stepsister’s newfound wealth, Blackmarie then jumps into the well and enters Mother Hulda’s service. But laziness has its just reward! A short film produced by Ullstein AV for distribution through the Foto-Quelle catalog of the period, based on the Brothers Grimm fairy tale.