Die renommierte San Francisco Film Society würdigt Bergblut als einen besonderen Film und als wohl ehrgeizigsten Studentenfilm der Geschichte:
The brochure describes Mountain Blood (Bergblut) as Philipp J. Pamer’s graduation film. In that case, he’s made the most ambitious and accomplished student film in history. Mountain Blood is a historical romance, a period piece and a costume drama rolled into one. Shot mostly in the South Tyrol Alps, it should look breathtaking on the Castro’s mammoth screen.
The movie begins in 1809 and tracks the eventful, chaotic early years of the lifelong love affair between Katharina and Franz, a wealthy, polished Bavarian girl and a rough-hewn Tyrolean carpenter. An act of violence compels the couple to flee over the mountains to Franz’s rural family, where the resourceful Katharina has to adjust to no-frills farm life.
Peace is short-lived and their lives are thrown off-course by, first, war, and then a rebellion against French and Bavarian soldiers organized and led by the innkeeper Andreas Hofer (an actual historical figure). No entrails are gored or bodices ripped in Mountain Blood, alas; Pamer has written a smart screenplay full of concise, precise dialogue that steers clear of pulp.
