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
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 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 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 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 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 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 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
This 1984 family adventure film focuses on familial relationships of children and the adventures they have up near the North Sea. Most of the actors either only acted in this film or have only been… Flussfahrt mit Huhn
This Wilhelm Busch work, read by the narrator Helmut Hansen, may be less well-known than Max und Moritz or Struwwelpeter, but popular enough to have been translated into English long ago. This story is a… Plisch und Plum
This simple audio-film uses the images from Wilhelm Busch’s Max und Moritz to tell the story. For those less familiar with the book, some of the Streiche (tricks, or in this case the chapters) may… Max und Moritz
This audio-film uses images from Wilhelm Busch’s Struwwelpeter exclusively. It goes through each short story with a musical clip and a collage of images from the book. At times the music is distracting, as it… Struwwelpeter
The 2014 film is the first in a series of four musical-style films dating through 2017. All are part of the Bibi Blocksberg storylines, but take place when Bibi is a teenager. This post will… Bibi und Tina
This is the fourth film of a series of six. The post for the first film can be found Here. Unfortunately I haven’t gotten my hands on the rest of the films yet – keep… Die wilden Kerle 4
This post will cover the first film, released in 2006. There is a post for the final film at Die wilden Hühner und das Leben. Unfortunately I haven’t gotten my hands on the middle film,… Die wilden Hühner
Taken from Otfried Ostpreußler’s children’s book, this 2013 film stars a little ghost who awakes at night to have his adventures. Caspar fans should particularly enjoy this film! Potentially the most famous of the cast… Das kleine Gespenst
This 2003 film with Daniel Brühl sees the differences between East and West Germany through a different lens than most films. The premise of this one is a fragile mother who falls into a coma… Good Bye Lenin!
Released in 2001, this film centers around a Jewish family that must leave 1930s Germany, settling in Kenya. Interestingly, the actress who plays Jettel, Juliane Köhler, also played Eva Braun in Der Untergang. Her husband… Nirgendwo in Afrika
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
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
Ostwind, released in 2013, has become a series of films, as of 2019 sitting at four. This post covers the first two. Hanna Binke plays our main character throughout the series. While she hasn’t been… Ostwind 1 und 2