The Story:
In the 1957 biographical war drama The Star of Africa directed by Alfred Weidenmann, gifted but undisciplined young Luftwaffe pilot Hans-Joachim “Jochen” Marseille (Joachim Hansen) and his close friend Robert Franke (Hansjörg Felmy) clash with superiors during reckless European stunts before deploying to the North African desert where Jochen’s daring tactics yield over 100 aerial victories.
After his 100th kill Jochen is honored in Berlin and Rome yet falls in love with mathematics teacher Brigitte (Marianne Koch) whose desperate pleas for him to desert clash with his unyielding duty to comrades pulling him back to the front.
As engine failure dooms his Messerschmitt 109 over Egypt and his parachute fails in the desert the tragic loss leaves Brigitte collapsing in grief while teaching her class in this haunting era of sacrifice and glory.
