Several recurring thematic elements are common to a number of Hauff's movies, such as the struggle of an individual against
authoritarianism, whether perpetrated by a parent (as in Paule Pauländer (1976)-RRB-, a community (Mathias Kneissl (1970)-RRB-, an institution (Die Verrohung des Franz Blum (The Brutalization of Franz Blum, 1974), or the
police and security apparatus of the
state or society at large (Stammheim and Knife in the Head).