This 2003 drama-comedy takes place in Berlin and follows a bartender, Frank Lehmann, who is most frequently called Herr Lehmann. There are some interesting clips that could be used in an educational setting, particularly earlier… Herr Lehmann
This 2014 historical drama-romance is another telling of Friedrich Schiller’s story. (We previously saw Schweighöfer’s Schiller, which was released in 2005.) This telling features Florian Stetter as Schiller and Henrietta Confurius and Hannah Herzsprung as… Die geliebten Schwestern
This film is a 2001 romantic comedy. We follow a young man’s adventure into early career and other aspects of young adult life. Viktor is played by Alexander Scheer (of Sonnenallee fame). Götz George, who… Viktor Vogel Commercial Man
This 2013 drama focuses on the dark side of otherwise regular people. Many actors have had smaller roles over the years – or may be most famous in Poland – but the highlight of this… Finsterworld
This 1970 Werner Herzog film is a dark comedy centering itself on a correctional facility exclusively inhabited by little people. It was filmed on the Canary Islands, Spain, but is (other than some names) entirely… Auch Zwerge haben klein angefangen
This 2016 drama-comedy features favourite actors Matthias Schweighöfer, Florian David Fitz, and Alexandra Maria Lara. This is a medical drama where we meet terminally ill patients who, through their differences, decide to have the best… Der geilste Tag
This 1993 film adaptation of the famous historical drama/mystery stays well to the original story. Perhaps the most recognisable faces are Uwe Ochsenknecht and Katharina Thalbach. We also see Udo Samel (Mein bester Feind, Die… Kaspar Hauser
This 2008 drama-comedy stars well-known Michael “Bully” Herbig as Boandlkramer (Death). We follow a 70 year old as he begins seeing Death and how he handles interactions with him. Other familiar faces are Lisa Maria… Die Geschichte von Brandner Kaspar
This 1992 romantic comedy features a young Jürgen Vogel (in fact, this film is credited as his turning point as prominent actor, though he had begun his career nearly 20 years earlier as a small… Kleine Haie
This 2000 comedy follows two men after a night of drinking. There is not much of a plot, nor does it claim to really have one. Our stars are Eckhardt Preuß and Markus Knüfken. They… DoppelPack
This 2019 drama is a prequel to a TV series following a group of children who are sick in the hospital. Perhaps the most recognizable faces in this film are Tim Oliver Schultz, whom we’ve… Club der roten Bänder – wie alles begann
This 2020 comedy centers itself around intergenerational relationships and the needs of retired individuals compared to those of younger generations. There is a sequel (Enkel für Fortgeschrittene), but this post focuses solely on the first.… Enkel für Anfänger
Don’t be silly – this 1995 film is not for the classroom. That being said, it deserves a post for those who are looking for films for their own enjoyment. Some of the favourite actors… Stadtgespräch
This 2019 family-appropriate adventure film was popular enough to get a TV series, which started in 2023. Jürgen Vogel is a familiar face here (assuming you can recognize him with hair!). You may also recognize… Die Drei !!!
This 2019 film features a star-studded cast, including Elyas M’Barek, Wotan Wilke Möhring, Jessica Schwarz, Karoline Herfurth, Frederick Lau, Florian David Fitz, Katja Riemann, and so many others. There is an explicit conversation between M’Barek’s… Das perfekte Geheimnis
This post is specially covering the four-episode Augsburger Puppenkiste collection from 1977 and not the film remake of 2018. This film is recommended for ages 3+ and does lean young. That being said, the language… Jim Knopf und Lukas der Lokomotivführer
This 1998 film won the Deutscher Filmpreis 1999 and is based on a true story. It was August Diehl’s first film role and he plays our main character. Alongside him is Fabian Busch, whom we… 23 – Nichts ist so wie es scheint
This 2020 comedy film got its start as short YouTube clips. The short, someone disconnected scenes show this history, but it also makes it perfect to show as clips for the classroom. There is both… Ostfriesen auf der Bank
This 2002 film is marketed as a drama comedy. There are pieces in the rom-com category, but in true German film nature, the drama pulls it back to reality. We know Max Mauff from Die… Das Jahr der ersten Küsse
This post is specifically covering the 2020 remake of this film, and none of the the other versions or films in the series – hopefully I’ll have access to others at some point! Our two… Jim Knopf und die wilde 13
This 2019 family-family comedy features a magic mirror and a 4th grade student who decides to use it. In true children’s film fashion, most of the actors are lesser-known. You may recognize Margarita Broich from… Unheimlich Perfekte Freunde
This 1999 film is a drama-comedy, focused on a group of young men who are trying to enjoy one more day together before one leaves – a typical coming of age moment. Our main actors… Absolute Giganten
This 2017 comedy has a hint of rom-com, though it is wrapped in awkward social incompetence, thereby providing the film with the simple “comedy” label. Our title character is played by Heinz Strunk, an actor… Jürgen – Heute wird gelebt
This 2015 comedy is an interesting warning in society and could be an interesting conversational piece. Charly Hübner is our main actor. We have seen him before in Das Leben der Anderen, the Bibi und… Vorsicht vor Leuten
A Eberhoferkrimi, this 2019 film is a continuation of stories that began in 2013 with Dampfnudelblues and continues through 2022 with Guglhupfgeschwader so far. (It appears as if they may have spun off from a… Leberkäs Junkie
This Matthias Schweighöfer film follows three young men as they move their lives from Moscow to Berlin. Filmed in 2012, it takes place just after the Berlin Wall fell. You can read more about Matthias… Russendisko
This 2018 film has a star-studded cast. From Christoph Maria Herbst to Florian David Fitz, you’ll find several familiar faces here. This is a comedy, brought to us by director Sönke Wortmann (Wunder von Bern,… Der Vorname
This 2020 Austrian Netflix film is marketed as a horror/mystery/thriller. There are moments of consequential learning that may be of interest to you and your students. For example, the older son complains that his phone… Das schaurige Haus
This 2018 drama-comedy is a Netflix film centers around orthodox Jewish tradition and a young man’s decision to turn away from his family’s orthodox religious lifestyle. Joel Basman is our main character. Born in Switzerland,… Wolkenbruchs wunderliche Reise in die Arme einer Schickse
This Austrian Netflix film was released in 2020. The central theme is infertility, along with the stress that is placed on the marriage. It is rated TV-MA for nudity. Our female lead is Lavinia Wilson.… Was wir wollten
This 2017 documentary is currently available on Netflix. It is rated TV-14. This film holds a critical look at the milk production economy around the world. There are a few different languages included in this,… Das System Milch
This 2016 sequel is currently available on Netflix. It is a family film and is rated TV-G. (Please note: it does not appear that Netflix currently has the other Pettersson und Findus films. This post… Pettersson und Findus 2 – Das schönste Weihnachten überhaupt
This 2017 Netflix film is marketed as a teen movie and is rated TV-PG. Our star is Lena Klenke. We may recognize her from Victoria, Fack ju Göhte (the series), and Das schweigende Klassenzimmer. Next… Rock my Heart
This 2020 Netflix film is marketed as a drama. It focuses on a major medical concern for a child, which causes her act out violently. Most cast members are likely new faces to us. That… Systemsprenger
This 2020 Netflix film is marketed as a drama-romance. You may find many similarities between this film and Step it up or Save the Last Dance. This is a good film for those enjoy such… Into the Beat – dein Herz tanzt
This 2021 Netflix film is marketed as a teen movie, but is rated TV-MA. Perhaps the only thing leaning in a “teen movie” description is the fact that it centers itself around a school. Sadly,… Schwarze Insel
This 2018 drama comedy centers around the music scene and is currently available on Netflix. Bela B. stars in this film. You may recognize his voice if nothing else – he’s a member of Die… So was von da
Currently available on Netflix, this 2008 film is a drama-comedy with a focus on music. Quite a few of the actors in this film are very likely new to us. In fact, the star is… Berlin Calling
This 2020 Netflix film is marketed as a drama-mystery-fantasy. Cornelia Gröschel plays our lead. She may look familiar from Der Staat gegen Fritz Bauer. Next to her is Tim Oliver Schultz, whom we know from… Freaks – du bist eine von uns
This 2014 drama-mystery is currently available on Netflix. This film stars Tom Schilling, whom we’ve seen in a few posts already. Next to him is Elyas M’Barek, whom we also know quite well by now,… Who am I – kein System ist sicher
This 2019 Netflix film is marketed as a crime-thriller and is rated TV-MA. The first person we see is Max von der Groeben, whom we may recognize from the Bibi und Tina series and the… Kidnapping Stella
This 2016 comedy is currently available on Netflix. Olaf Schubert plays himself, kind of. Fans of German stand up and other such comedy may recognize him. His father is played by Mario Adorf, a Swiss-born… Schubert in Love: Vater werden ist (nicht) schwer