Baumeister Solness

If you climb, you risk falling. For master builder Solness, this is doubly true. He had started out as a clerk in an architect's office, but soon got his own commissions and pushed his boss more and more to the side. Marrying a wealthy woman and her stately possessions came in handy for him. When the house he inherited fell victim to a fire, he subdivided the site and placed single-family homes on it. His boss became his employee, as did his son, and finally he made his fiancee his accountant. She adores him, which he only uses to keep the family dependent. Solness is considered a happy person. But he is driven by fear and feelings of guilt.

Directed by Thomas Ostermeier, Baumeister Solness leans on a strong ensemble — Gert Voss, Dorothee Hartinger, Urs Hefti — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 2004.