Ó k5sz2i Film versus reality What ideas do you think English-speaking people have about Austria? Choose the top five stereotypes from the list below. ■■ cakes ■■ skiing ■■ lederhosen ■■ waltz ■■ music ■■ kangaroos ■■ yodelling ■■ sauerkraut ■■ mountains ■■ National Socialism Work in pairs and find out whether you have chosen the same ones. Give reasons for your choice. Why would anybody associate kangaroos with Austria? You are going to read about a film which has contributed a lot towards coining Austria’s image especially in English-speaking countries. It is called The Sound of Music. Have you seen it or heard of it? What is it about? Read the article. According to the text, is The Sound of Music an accurate account of the Trapp family story? Reading 1 a b 2 a b The Sound of Music Much better known in the English-speaking world than in Austria itself, The Sound of Music is a movie of which many people believe that it shows the real Austria. However, you need to remember that this idealized picture of Austria – all beautiful mountains and lakes and people in traditional clothes who break into song at the drop of a hat – has nothing to do with reality. Similarly, the plot of The Sound of Music offers a sanitized version of the Trapp family’s story. Whoever is interested in a more accurate picture is well advised to consult the National Archives of the USA – which holds the Trapps’ immigration papers and applications for citizenship – or read interviews with family members that were published in American newspapers at the time. In the movie, Naval Commander Georg Trapp is a rather serious and intimidating character, who is saved from his loneliness and converted to music by Maria. Actually, his children remember making music with him long before Maria joined their household. And Maria, forever sweet, caring and understanding in the movie, is said to have had a terrible temper. Both her stepchildren and her own children remember how scared everybody was of her angry outbursts, which were over quickly, though, like thunderstorms. While Georg’s refusal to fly the Nazi flag from the family estate and the family’s refusal, in general, to have anything to do with the National Socialist regime does correspond to reality, their escape from Nazi-occupied Austria was much less adventurous in real life than in the movie. One of the daughters remembers leaving by train to go to Italy and then to London before boarding a ship to America. In short, it was much less sensational than the spectacular hike across the Alps to Switzerland – with the family members carrying suitcases and musical instruments – that is shown in the movie. What is also true is that, before leaving Austria, they won first place at the Salzburg Music Festival in 1936 and became successful, singing folk songs and Renaissance and Baroque madrigal music all across Europe. Another daughter, Eleonore, remembers that their father was initially rather reluctant to allow his family to perform in public. However, after the family’s financial ruin in the 1930s and, later, when they were rather poor immigrants in America, making music was a welcome source of income. They toured the 98 8 Unit find out news about people you know write a brochure Goals talk about truth and lies relate a conversation summarise what people say Fiction and reality Nur zu Prüfzwecken – Eigentum des Verlags öbv
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