Inspired by the real-life events of Mathias Kneißl, a marginal man, son of poor farmers from Bavaria, in the late XIX century. Mathias stole from the rich to give to the poor, becoming a hero for the rural people and a popular social rebel. He was chased by the police until his unfortunate sentence.
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
 Hans BrennerMathias Kneissl | Mathias Kneissl |
 Ruth DrexelRes Kneissl, Mathias' Mutter | Res Kneissl, Mathias' Mutter |
 Eva MattesKatharina Kneissl | Katharina Kneissl |
 Hanna SchygullaMathilde Schreck | Mathilde Schreck |
| FFrank FreyAlois Kneissl | Alois Kneissl |
 Gustl BayrhammerMühlbauer | Mühlbauer |
 Rainer Werner FassbinderFlecklbauer | Flecklbauer |
 Kurt RaabFritz Rechthaler, Jungbauer | Fritz Rechthaler, Jungbauer |
 Walter SedlmayrPolizist | Polizist |
| KKelle RiedlNot listed | Not listed |
| AAlfons ScharfNot listed | Not listed |
| MMartin SperrNot listed | Not listed |
 Irm HermannNot listed | Not listed |
| FFranziska StömmerNot listed | Not listed |
| AAnnemarie WendlNot listed | Not listed |
| UUrsula SträtzNot listed | Not listed |
| WWerner KließNot listed | Not listed |
 Volker SchlöndorffNot listed | Not listed |
 Franz Peter WirthNot listed | Not listed |
| PPeter ProbstNot listed | Not listed |
| IIvo Vrzal-WiegandNot listed | Not listed |
| GGustaf DennertNot listed | Not listed |
 Karl ObermayrNot listed | Not listed |