Elli fights for her farm: A farmer's wife defies prejudice and finds love!

Elli fights for her farm: A farmer's wife defies prejudice and finds love!

In this country we often think of the romance of country life, but the reality for many farmers' women is completely different. This also applies to the main character Elli, who is portrayed by Jutta Speidel in the feature film “24 dairy cows and no man” (2013). After 25 years of hard work and the sudden death of her husband, she is faced with the challenge of continuing to manage her heavily indebted farm in Bavaria alone. Unfortunately, their own children - daughter Kathrin, who works in a luxury hotel in Munich, and son Christian, whose wife runs a hairdressing salon in the village - cannot help. The bank advisor Kurt, played by Robert Giggenbach, urges Elli to sell the farm, but that is out of the question for her. She not only wants to save the farm, but also find her own happiness, and rejects both the sale and Kurt's romantic advances. There's definitely something in the air!

Elli dreams of true love and tries her luck with a partner agency. Here she meets Raymond, a man from Zimbabwe, with whom she immediately feels a connection. But her new companion has to face numerous prejudices and mistrust in the village, especially from the men. While her children remain skeptical, Ellie hears from the dating agency that she is considered “difficult to place” because many men ask about her profession and lose interest. Raymond, however, is the only one who isn't put off by Elli's role as a farmer's wife.

The challenges of rural life

As part of a Germany-wide study on the living and working situation of women in agriculture, funded by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the challenges faced by women farmers like Elli become visible. Despite the important role that women play in agriculture, gender equality in this sector is still not achieved. The study shows that there is a slight tendency towards more female succession to the farm. Women often face difficulties such as workload, volunteer work and family responsibilities. Elli also struggles with these challenges while trying to save her farm and find personal happiness. These are stories that many women in rural areas can relate to.

Elli increasingly becomes Raymond's protector when he is threatened with hostility from a villager who denounces him to the immigration authorities. This leads Elli to act courageously to save Raymond from possible deportation. The film addresses the challenges and pitfalls of country life in a humorous but also serious way, while at the same time Elli deals with her own life questions.

A film with a social background

“24 dairy cows and no man” is not only a love story, but also a reflection of the realities of life for many farmers. The film is broadcast on the occasion of Jutta Speidel's 60th birthday and highlights the importance of the social commitment that the actress shows in various projects. The message the film conveys is clear: rural women are strong and have a lot to give, even if they are often overshadowed by their male colleagues.

For many viewers, the film is a welcome reminder that the rural world is not just about agriculture, but also about people, their dreams and challenges. It's exciting to see the next steps on Elli's path to self-realization.

For more information about the film and more details about its broadcast, visit: ARD media library. If you would like to find out more about the living conditions of women in agriculture, you can view the study on the website Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture read through.

In summary, the film is not only in the realm of entertainment, but also provides a deep insight into the reality of many women farmers and shows that strong women are at the heart of rural communities.