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Das Mädchen Rosemarie

This 1996 TV movie is marketed as a historical drama. It focuses on the clash of classes, set in the 1950s. For a TV movie, this film does have some big-name actors. Then again, it… Das Mädchen Rosemarie

In Tranzit

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This 2008 movie was filmed in English in Russia.  It was released directly to DVD, and considerably earlier in Russia than anywhere else. The film takes place in 1946 and follows German prisoners of war… In Tranzit

Der neunte Tag

This 2004 war film, somewhat based on a wartime diary, follows a priest into Dachau and for nine days of freedom in his home country of Luxembourg. Our priest is played by Ulrich Matthes, who… Der neunte Tag

Das Leben der Anderen

This 2006 film is based on the lives the Stasi watch – and of course, the lives of the Stasi members themselves. East German actor Ulrich Mühe plays our Stasi main character. Mühe died the… Das Leben der Anderen

Spione

This 1928 film directed by Fritz Lang is marketed as a romance-thriller. The music does a good job keeping the thriller feeling, even 90 years later. The leading lady Sonja was played by Gerda Maurus,… Spione

Männerherzen

This 2009 film with Til Schweiger is a comedy revolving around men and their issues with women. This film has a sequel, released two years later. This post only reports on the first film. Along… Männerherzen

Murder on the Bridge

This version of Dürrenmatt’s Der Richter und sein Henker, released in 1975, features Jon Voigt and Jacqueline Bisset. The original language is English, but the German dubbing is logical for the setting. The main character… Murder on the Bridge

Ich bin dann mal weg

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This 2015 film is based on a book of the same title, written by the main character, Hape Kerkeling, who does not play himself in this particular film. Devid Striesow plays Hape. We know him… Ich bin dann mal weg

Amen.

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This international collaboration was originally filmed in English, French, Italian, and German. It appears to play automatically in the originally filmed languages, switching from German to English with no other reason beyond the actors’ languages… Amen.

Der Räuber Hotzenplotz

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This 2006 retelling of the classic story features Armin Rohde as the title character. We’ve seen him in quite the variety of roles in German film, and can even be seen in English language films… Der Räuber Hotzenplotz

Fremde Haut

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Known in the U.S. as Unveiled, this 2005 film shows the difficult lives of those seeking asylum. The main character, Fariba, is seeking asylum due to her persecution in her home country of Iran –… Fremde Haut

Linie 1

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This musical is very Berlin! It was released in 1988 and does a great job showing the different pros and cons of living in the free side of the city, as well as the judgement… Linie 1

Lebenszeichen

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Released in 1968, this Werner Herzog film is a drama done in the form of a documentary, and was his first feature film. As mentioned in the post on Woyzeck, Wolfgang Reichmann joins us again… Lebenszeichen

Er ist wieder da!

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This 2015 film (currently available on Netflix as Look Who’s Back) is a satire/comedy – if Hitler unknowingly time travelled to modern day. Hitler is played by Oliver Masucci, who many of us know from… Er ist wieder da!

Sonnenallee

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This 1999 film focuses on life at the East-West Berlin border, specifically the teen lives of the times. As such, it has long since been used in German classrooms, though I have not used this… Sonnenallee

Stereo

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This 2014 film featuring Jürgen Vogel is a thriller. It is a bit of a mind-breaking storyline. Of course Jürgen Vogel and Moritz Bleibtreu are awesome in this film, as always. Petra Schmidt-Schaller also adds… Stereo

Vitus

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This 2006 film has long since become a popular one among German teachers, largely due to its PG rating. It is a Swiss film, which means there are some characters who speak in Swiss German,… Vitus

Herz aus Glas

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This 1976 Werner Herzog film is centered in a small village (and as such, some dialect and heavier accents are used), where the secret of the ruby glass dies with the maker. While many of… Herz aus Glas

Der Himmel über Berlin

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Known in the U.S. by the name Wings of Desire, this 1987 film follows an angel watching over Berlin and its citizens and visitors. It is in both German and English, as Peter Falk plays… Der Himmel über Berlin

Woyzeck

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This 1979 Werner Herzog film starring Klaus Kinski is just one of the film versions of the Georg Büchner play, first performed in 1913. More on Klaus Kinski can be found in the post on… Woyzeck

Vortex

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This short (45 minute) sci-fi film was released in 2001. It focuses on a futuristic criminal system, where criminals are sent to the Vortex. As such, there is violence from the beginning of the film… Vortex

Der fast perfekte Mann

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This 2013 comedy features Benno Fürmann as a man who sees his life as perfect and doesn’t like the idea of change.  Of course that means his life is about to change drastically and he… Der fast perfekte Mann

Ein Freund von mir

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This 2006 film features Daniel Brühl and Jürgen Vogel, two actors we’ve heard a lot about already. We start with a melancholy mood during a large celebration, which gives us an idea of the type… Ein Freund von mir

Die fetten Jahre sind vorbei

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This 2004 film is known in America by it’s English title, The Edukators.  Young activists come together and perform interesting crimes against rich businessmen… Daniel Brühl, Julie Jentsch, and Stipe Erceg play our main characters.… Die fetten Jahre sind vorbei

Lautlos

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This 2004 film is a thriller. It’s about an assassin, played by Joachim Król.  We see his life and the investigation of his work. Joachim Król is not only a busy actor, but also a… Lautlos

One Way

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Although this 2006 film was produced in Germany, it was originally in English and French.  Til Schweiger is not only the main character, he is also the producer.  We know him from many films, both… One Way

Berlin 36

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This 2009 film is marketed as a true story of the Olympics, 1936.  Gretel Bergmann was the best high jumper of her time, but as a Jew, she did not want to return to Germany… Berlin 36

Buddenbrooks

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This 2008 film is an adaptation of the Thomas Mann novel by the same name.  Wikipedia actually has a good article on this book, even in the English article.  It’s a story not unlike Pride and… Buddenbrooks

Kammerflimmern

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Released in 2004, this film with Matthias Schweighöfer and Jessica Schwarz is marketed as a drama-romance. Another interesting cast member to take note of is Florian Lukas, who plays Richie. He was also in Good… Kammerflimmern

Der Steppenwolf

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This film adaptation of Hermann Hesse’s Steppenwolf was released in 1974. It was originally done in English. Before the movie begins, there is a note stating that this version includes scenes not available in the… Der Steppenwolf

Keinohrhasen / Zweiohrküken

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Keinohrhasen (2007) and Zweiohrküken (2009) are one continuous story, so I’ll include them both here.  Both are co-written by, directed by, and star Til Schweiger.  Zweiohrküken makes more sense if you have seen Keinohrhasen –… Keinohrhasen / Zweiohrküken

Echte Kerle

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This 1996 film follows a macho cop who is having problems with his fiancé and ends up living with a gay man named Edgar.  He is questioning his sexuality. Random situations and conversations take place… Echte Kerle

Die Weiße Rose

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This 1982 film is the same story as the more modern Sophie Scholl – the story of the student resistance group, the White Rose, and specifically Sophie Scholl. This film, while based on the true… Die Weiße Rose

Die abhandene Welt

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This 2015 film with Katja Riemann is one of Margarethe von Trotta’s masterpieces, combining the past with the hearts of today. Tom Beck plays the small role of Sophie’s (Katja Riemann) significant other. The role… Die abhandene Welt

Die Apothekerin

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This 1997 film with German-film-fan favorites Katja Riemann and Jürgen Vogel follows a 30 year old woman looking for love, but has – shall we say “interesting” – tastes for a successful woman. This film… Die Apothekerin

Irre sind männlich

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This 2014 film features Fahri Yardim (whom we know from Almanya – Willkommen in Deutschland) as Daniel – a young man with relationship troubles, a mother who is a famous therapist, and a best friend… Irre sind männlich

Oh Boy!

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This 2012 film is a tragi-comedy about a university drop-out who is searching for his way in life. Tom Schilling plays the main character, Niko.  He has several interesting roles in other films, but this… Oh Boy!

Mein bester Feind

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This 2011 film is a dark comedy war film, starring Moritz Bleibtreu and Georg Friedrich. It wasn’t released in the US until 2013.  In this film, a Jewish man switches places with his Nazi best… Mein bester Feind

Such mich nicht

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This 2004 film is a thriller about a woman (Anna) who is an assassin who would like to retire.  She must complete one last hit before her boss will allow her to leave. Stipe Erceg,… Such mich nicht

Gegen die Wand

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Gegen die Wand, released in 2004, is a film that deals with cultural expectations, addictions, and other (bad) coping devices. In other words, right away one I wouldn’t recommend for the classroom, though it might… Gegen die Wand