New Movie Draws Inspiration from the Food Tasters of Hitler

The film “Die Vorkosterinnen” (The Tasters), directed by Italian filmmaker Silvio Soldini, is based on Rosella Postorino’s bestselling novel, “Le assaggiatrici.” The story is set in November 1943 in the East Prussian village of Gross-Partsch (present-day Parcz, Poland) and follows the life of young woman Rosa Sauer (Elisa Schlott) who has fled her bombed-out apartment in Berlin and moves in with her in-laws. Her husband, a German soldier, is fighting in Ukraine. Rosa lands among a group of women who are forcibly recruited by the SS to serve as Hitler’s food tasters. The women are unaware that the Nazi “Führer” has many enemies and are terrified that the meals they are required to taste could be poisoned. Amid the tension, Rosa develops a secret relationship with SS lieutenant Ziegler (Max Riemelt) and becomes friends with Elfriede (Alma Hasun), who has good reasons to be secretive. The film is an adaptation of Postorino’s novel and reflects the story of Wölk, who was interviewed by the press at the age of 95, and speaks to the relevance of the story today. Despite historical inaccuracies, the film portrays parallels with current developments in the world.