In 2022, a German language film called ‘Sachertorte’, directed by Tine Rogoll, was released on Amazon Prime Video, starring Max Hubacher as Karl, Maeve Metelka as Miriam, and Michaela Saba as Nini. Karl from Berlin and Nini from Vienna meet by chance on the last day of Nini’s visit to Berlin and spend a day together. As Nini leaves, she gives Karl her phone number, but he loses it. The only thing he really knows about Nini - that she meets her father at Café Sacher in Vienna, at 3pm every year on her birthday, for a slice of Sacher-torte (a famous Viennese chocolate cake). Karl believes Nini could truly be the one for him, and so he moves all the way to Vienna, to wait at Café Sacher at 3pm every day in wait for Nini’s birthday when they can be reunited. In Vienna, Karl meets some friends with interesting stories of their own, one of whom is Miriam, who owns her own pastry shop. Whilst dreaming of Nini, Vienna changes Karl’s life entirely…
The film is light-hearted and has a beautiful message of having the courage to follow your dreams, no matter what other people think of you, but also suggests that you shouldn’t be so determined that you forget the important things happening right in front of you either. The film is only a year old and the characters are all mainly young adults, so the level of language isn’t too advanced and formal, however the speed of dialogue, colloquial terms and authentic pronunciation can make it challenging to understand without subtitles. Personally, I watched this with English subtitles and found that in some cases I could really hear and understand the German for what I was reading in English, but whether you’re a German-learner or not, and whatever stage you’re at in your German studies, you will have no problem understanding the film, and I think you will enjoy it just as much! Overall, I would highly recommend this no-stress, happy-ending rom-com, but be warned it will have you salivating for a slice of Sacher-torte!
The Sacher-torte and Café Sacher featured in the film are both real, and have a unique history…
The Sacher-Torte is probably one of Austria’s most well-known desserts, named after Franz Sacher. This gifted pâtissier supposedly confected this rich chocolate cake during his apprenticeship in the palace of Prince Metternich of Austria, in 1832, as the chef was ill and the Prince had requested a spectacular new dessert for a special occasion. The Prince’s parting comment to 16 year old Sacher - ‘I hope you do not discredit me tonight’.
With the pressure on, teenage Sacher created a dessert which has gone on to become a quintessential mark of Viennese cuisine, using basic cake ingredients. The recipe for the ‘Original Sacher-Torte’ still served at Hotel Sacher (opened in 1876 by one of Franz Sacher’s sons Eduard) in Vienna is, of course, a closely guarded secret, but fundamentally the torte comprises of two layers of chocolate sponge sandwiched together and surrounded by a layer of apricot jam, and smothered in a rich, glossy chocolate icing.
Now, this famous cake has been the subject of dispute too. In 1934, another pastry shop, Demel’s, began selling ‘Eduard Sacher-Torte’, named after Eduard Sacher. He completed an apprenticeship at Demel’s bakery and Eduard gave Demel’s the right to sell this torte as part of the insolvency proceedings when the Sacher estate became bankrupt. However, this resulted in a battle over whose torte was the original, as Eduard may have tweaked the family recipe, and he was connected to both businesses. The result was that Hotel Sacher won (after a nine year legal battle!) the right to call their torte, and their torte only, the ‘Original Sacher-Torte’. The cakes are very similar, both even served with whipped cream, the only easily discernible difference is that Demel’s torte has only one layer of jam, whereas Sacher’s has two.
However, this isn’t to say that the Sacher-Torte is only available at these two shops, In fact, Hotel Sacher ships around 360,000 handmade tortes all around the world every year! It is also widely sold in cafes and bakeries and there are many recipes online too - and they may even come with lower price tags…
Wallaree. V
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