Directed by Peter Thorwarth, Netflix's Blood & Gold "Blood & Gold" is a German action comedy film about the Nazi SS's gold treasure hunt. It includes Robert Maaser, Marie Hacke, and Alexander Scheer, among others. Deserter Private Heinrich opposes the SS in his pursuit of reunion with his youngest daughter. Along the way, a local farmer named Elsa helps him, and together they find themselves in the middle of a secret gold hunt in the small village of Sonnenberg.
The war drama film is set in 1945 Nazi Germany and explores the antisemitic and totalitarian dictatorship conditions of the time. It uses a closed environment within a small village. By doing so, the film focuses on the anti-nationalist sentiments felt by some citizens of Nazi Germany towards the end of Hitler's reign. Because of the historical references and settings, viewers may wonder about the story's basis in real-world history. Therefore, here is everything you need to know about the origin of 'Blood and Gold'.
Is Blood and Gold a True Story?
No, 'Blood and Gold' is not based on a true story. The film's wider historical setting is based on real-world events during World War II. However, the specific plot depicted about a Jewish treasure hunt in Sonnenberg, Germany, is not based on real events. The story arcs that the film explores are works of fiction penned by screenwriter Stefan Barth. Likewise, the story was brought to life by director Peter Thorwarth, who is known for his work as a writer on the 2 action movie "Blood Red Sky" and 2021's "The Wave."
Although 'Blood and Gold' is Thorwarth's first attempt at a Western story, it is a genre that has long fascinated the filmmaker. “[For me] comedies starring Bud Spencer and Terence Hill were an introduction to spaghetti westerns and later classics,” Thorwarth said in an interview, talking about his interest in the Western genre. Hence, the 1979 'I'm for Hippopotamus' and 1974's 'Attention, We're Crazy!' Genre implications aside, the core premise of Nazi gold hunting presented by 'Blood and Gold' is inspired by real life.
The notion that Nazi officers and soldiers financially robbed Jews imprisoned in Nazi concentration camps has a solid basis in history. According to a December 1997 New York Times article, Swiss historians of the time claimed that the amount of stolen gold in Nazi Germany's possession was around $1945 million at 146 prices. Thus, although there are no recorded treasure hunts by the SS at Sonnenberg in 1945, the fictionalized idea of this is not entirely unfounded in history. Also, viewers can relate to the film's emotional narration and character arcs because of its deep roots in reality.
“Blood and Gold” primarily revolves around Hienrich's love for his daughter Lottchen and Elsa's love for her brother Paule. Throughout the film, Heinrich and Elsa risk their lives to be reunited with their families. Along the way they bond with each other and return over and over to save each other's lives. As such, the film focuses on the themes of love and perseverance despite the negative situations. The friendship between Heinrich and Elsa is impetuous and fleeting, but based on trust and respect.
Additionally, both characters are portrayed as hostile to the Nazis and harbor an open hatred of them. Therefore, it is easy to relate to them and the audience is bound to sympathize with their story. Similarly, the enemies in the story are Nazi officers of the SS organization. The film also taps into the more overt antisemitic sentiments found in Germany and portrays them in a harsh light through such characters. Therefore, they carry an inherently sinister air around them, which the audience quickly captures.
As the story progresses, viewers dislike the nasty characters like Dörfler, Sonja, and Colonel Von Starnfeld. As a result, 'Blood and Gold' is not based on a true story. As it is a historical fiction movie, it borrows some facts and scenes from real life. The film spreads classic Western metaphors and reflects the real-world conditions of the time. However, there is no real-life basis behind the characters or events.