Lena Rais is the story of a woman's rebellion against the stagnation of her life. Her revolt begins playfully, but when it takes on an increasing intensity, she finds she cannot articulate her needs. Her husband, on the other hand, though he finds her silent provocation incomprehensible, opposes her with eloquent monologues.
“Back in 1966, the ‘Year One' of New German Cinema, Christian Rischert's Headstand, Madame won recognition as a forthright treatment of a marriage problem. A decade later...(t)he documentary edge and strong performances by Krista Stadler and Tilo Pruckner assure that Lena Rais will remain on German screens as long as Headstand, Madame before it....” --“German Film, #2”