Trading Warmth for Wealth: a Fable With a Cold Center

Read Time:5 Minute, 23 Second

MOVIE REVIEW
Heart of Stone (Das kalte Herz)
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Genre: Fantasy, Drama
Year Released: 1950, Eureka Entertainment Blu-ray 2025
Runtime: 1h 44m
Director(s): Paul Verhoeven (German filmmaker, not the Dutch director)
Writer(s): Wilhelm Hauff (original story), Kurt Heuser (screenplay)
Cast: Lutz Moik, Lotte Loebinger, Hanna Rucker, Paul Esser, Paul Bildt, Erwin Geschonneck
Where to Watch: available June 23, 2025, pre-order your copy here: www.eurekavideo.co.uk

RAVING REVIEW: HEART OF STONE might be a fable, but it isn’t content with being quiet. This East German fairy tale, originally titled DAS KALTE HERZ, filters its lesson through striking visuals, shadowy forests, and the kind of existential consequence you don’t often expect from a children’s fantasy. Newly restored for its Blu-ray debut from Eureka’s Masters of Cinema series, the 1950 film is fascinating both as a work of early color cinema and as a social commentary buried in the framework of folklore. It doesn’t hit every mark, but there’s much to appreciate, especially how it mixes whimsy with something far darker.

Directed by Paul Verhoeven—not the ROBOCOP and BASIC INSTINCT one, but his German namesake—this adaptation of Wilhelm Hauff’s tale was the first color feature made by East Germany’s DEFA studio. While that distinction may sound like a footnote, it becomes essential to how the film carries itself. The color photography isn’t just a technical achievement—it’s used to draw contrast between emotion, highlight the divide between greed and joy, and create a melancholy that underscores the story’s harshest lessons.

At the heart of the story is Peter Munk (Lutz Moik), a poor charcoal burner who believes that riches will finally make him worth something. Like many fairy tale protagonists, Peter is too eager to skip the hard work of becoming a better man and instead turns to the supernatural for a shortcut. After an encounter with the Glass Imp (Paul Bildt), who offers him a limited chance at fortune, Peter’s desperation leads him to Dutch Michael (Erwin Geschonneck), a brooding forest demon who promises everything Peter wants—at the cost of his human heart.

A cautionary spiral follows, where Peter gets exactly what he asks for, only to discover that success without empathy is a hollow prize. While the film plays up its fantasy elements with animated charm, particularly in the Glass Imp’s appearances, it doesn't shy away from grim imagery either. One moment, you’re caught in a rustic dance with locals; the next, you’re watching a sorrowful scene that could shake the intended younger viewers' cores. That sharpness is part of what makes HEART OF STONE still so compelling. It wants children to learn, but it doesn’t coddle them.

As a morality tale, it shares more DNA with something like THE RED BALLOON than modern Disney. It’s not about overcoming an external villain—Peter is the villain of his own life for much of the film. His decisions hurt those around him, particularly the kindhearted Lisbeth (Hanna Rucker), whose compassion contrasts with Peter’s stone-cold detachment once the deal is made. The film never entirely lets him off the hook, even when redemption becomes possible.

That said, the film’s pacing can feel lopsided. Some segments stretch too long, while others rush past. You can feel the push toward its resolution, but certain scenes—particularly ones dealing with Peter’s regret—might have benefited from just a bit more breathing room. Still, Moik does solid work holding the center of the story. Even when Peter makes frustrating choices, he never feels like a cartoon; his downfall is recognizably human.

Eureka’s Blu-ray presentation gives this classic a home worthy of its legacy. The 2K restoration is impressive, restoring the color palette to something vivid yet earthy, perfect for the fantasy world the film builds. The special features are generous too, especially for those curious about DEFA’s unique place in cinema history. The video essays, commentary, and animated shorts included in the set provide real context, not just filler. It's a reminder that East German cinema often carved out its identity politically, stylistically, and philosophically from the West.

HEART OF STONE is, at its core, a story about values—about what we’re willing to give up to get ahead and what it means when we no longer feel anything. It may not be the smoothest tale, but its emotional through-line is clear and doesn’t let you forget the cost of forgetting compassion. For fans of historical fantasy or Eastern European cinema, this release is a welcome restoration of a strange and meaningful story that still resonates. It’s not the kind of fantasy that sends you off smiling, but it might stick with you longer because of that. HEART OF STONE might have been made for children, but it speaks to our adult mistakes when we forget what truly matters. Beautifully restored and rich in its morality, though occasionally uneven in execution, HEART OF STONE still delivers a compelling and oddly haunting fable.

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[photo courtesy of EUREKA ENTERTAINMENT]

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