The Fritzl Affair

The Fritzl Affair examines the life of Josef Fritzl, an Austrian grandfather who imprisoned and abused his own daughter, Elisabeth, for 24 years in his cellar. This abuse resulted in Elisabeth giving birth to seven children during her captivity, three of whom had never seen the light of day until they were discovered in 2008.

The filmmakers travel to Austria and interview journalists, psychiatrists, and former friends in an attempt to understand Fritzl’s psyche. These discussions reveal a man who had a troubled childhood yet managed to build a successful life, establishing himself as a businessman and landlord. Most of his friends and neighbours were oblivious to his crimes, never suspecting that this respected engineer and business owner in Amstetten was capable of such horrific acts.

Psychiatrists reveal that Fritzl suffered from psychosexual issues from an early age. Over time, his desires were directed towards his young daughter, Elisabeth. He constructed an elaborate cellar and used a cloth drenched in ether to subdue and imprison her. The documentary exposes the two faces of Josef Fritzl, who successfully concealed his malicious behaviour from the Amstetten community for decades.