Once You’ve Worn Out the First Pair of Wooden Shoes … (1976)

A handful of quarrymen in the Reinhardtsdorf open cast mine near Bad Schandau dig out the coveted Elbe natural stone. Gabriele Denecke’s approach to the men, who are of different ages, is almost trance-like, the movement to and from the stones marks the transition to another world. We hear about the merciless working conditions of the past, about alcohol, people worn out before their time. Today, digging out the massive rocks in the midst of nature also constitutes a degree of freedom. Open cast miners share a special mindset. And: Once you’ve worn out your first pair of wooden shoes, you’ll stay – probably forever.

Director: Gabriele Denecke
Genre: Documentary
Runtime: 33 min
Release Date:
Original Language: de
More Films by Director: Gabriele Denecke
More Films in Genre: Documentary

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Once You’ve Worn Out the First Pair of Wooden Shoes … about?
A handful of quarrymen in the Reinhardtsdorf open cast mine near Bad Schandau dig out the coveted Elbe natural stone. Gabriele Denecke’s approach to the men, who are of different ages, is almost trance-like, the movement to and from the stones marks the transition to another world. We hear about the merciless working conditions of the past, about alcohol, people worn out before their time. Today, digging out the massive rocks in the midst of nature also constitutes a degree of freedom. Open cast miners share a special mindset. And: Once you’ve worn out your first pair of wooden shoes, you’ll stay – probably forever.
Who directed Once You’ve Worn Out the First Pair of Wooden Shoes …?
Once You’ve Worn Out the First Pair of Wooden Shoes … was directed by Gabriele Denecke.
How long is Once You’ve Worn Out the First Pair of Wooden Shoes …?
Once You’ve Worn Out the First Pair of Wooden Shoes … has a runtime of 33m (33 minutes).
What genre is Once You’ve Worn Out the First Pair of Wooden Shoes …?
Once You’ve Worn Out the First Pair of Wooden Shoes … is a Documentary film.