Austria Submits Berlinale Winner ‘The Devil’s Bath’ for Oscars International Race

“The Devil’s Bath,” a period psychological thriller that competed at the Berlin Film Festival, has been chosen by Austria as its official Oscar entry in the international feature film category. The film earned the Silver Bear for best cinematography, awarded to Martin Gschlacht, at the Berlinale.

“The Devil’s Bath” is directed by Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala, the Austrian filmmaking duo renowned for “Goodnight Mommy.” That film premiered at Venice and also represented Austria in the Oscar race before being adapted into an English-language version by Amazon, starring Naomi Watts.

Set in rural Austria in 1750, “The Devil’s Bath” stars Anja Plaschg, the rising singer and composer known as Soap & Skin. Plaschg portrays Agnes, a young married woman who feels oppressed in her husband’s emotionally stunted world, filled with chores and rigid expectations. As a pious and highly sensitive woman, Agnes succumbs to a deep depression, ultimately committing a shocking act of violence that she views as her only escape from her oppressive life.

Inspired by historical records, the film depicts the true stories of women who attempted to end their lives by committing murders in an effort to escape the religious damnation associated with suicide. “The Devil’s Bath” illuminates the struggles of women whose lives were dictated by religious dogma and societal taboos during that era.

The movie’s distribution in North America is managed by Shudder, which also secured the rights for the U.K., Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand. Worldwide sales are handled by Playtime.

Produced by Ulrich Seidl Filmproduktion in collaboration with Heimatfilm and Coop99 Filmproduktion, “The Devil’s Bath” continues to garner attention on the international film circuit.

Source: Berlin Film Festival