Das Boot
The story of life in an U-Boot during the war, this 1981 film explores the psyche and trials of the men serving their country under… Read More »Das Boot
German film
Die Nibelungen (Siegfried; Kriemhilds Rache)
These Fritz Lang films from 1924 follow the famous stories of Siegfried, beginning with the sword that he forged to slay the dragon. The actor… Read More »Die Nibelungen (Siegfried; Kriemhilds Rache)
Christiane F.: Wir Kinder vom Bahnhof Zoo
This 1981 film features the music of David Bowie. There is a lot to be said about this film. It is very educational. From the… Read More »Christiane F.: Wir Kinder vom Bahnhof Zoo
Die Fälscher
Based on Operation Bernhard, this 2007 war film with August Diehl and Karl Markovichs is the story of a Jewish man whose skills in counterfeiting… Read More »Die Fälscher
Stroszek
This Werner Herzog film, released in 1977 follows an alcoholic man emigrating to Wisconsin to begin a new life. The main character is played by… Read More »Stroszek
Good Bye Lenin!
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… Read More »Good Bye Lenin!
Nirgendwo in Afrika
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… Read More »Nirgendwo in Afrika
M
Fritz Lang’s 1931 mystery/criminal thriller is among the final films he directed before leaving his wife, screenwriter Thea von Harbou, who became a member of… Read More »M
Lore
This 2012 WWII film focuses on the survival of children and the struggles they must go through to make it happen. The truths of the… Read More »Lore
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,… Read More »Das Mädchen Rosemarie
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… Read More »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… Read More »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… Read More »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… Read More »Männerherzen
Nosferatu Phantom der Nacht (1979)
This Werner Herzog version of the classic 1922 Nosferatu (or, better stated, of Bram Stoker’s Dracula) features Klaus Kinski as Count Dracula. Lucy Harker in… Read More »Nosferatu Phantom der Nacht (1979)
Der Räuber Hotzenplotz
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… Read More »Der Räuber Hotzenplotz
Fremde Haut
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… Read More »Fremde Haut
Was tun, wenn’s brennt?
This 2001 Til Schweiger film focuses on Berlin in the 80s – and the punk life that dominated the era, and how that affected the… Read More »Was tun, wenn’s brennt?
Linie 1
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… Read More »Linie 1
Hui Buh: Das Schlossgespenst
This film is half animated / half live-action and the combination works incredibly well for it! Released in 2006, this Bully (Michael Herbig) film is… Read More »Hui Buh: Das Schlossgespenst
Lebenszeichen
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… Read More »Lebenszeichen
Er ist wieder da!
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… Read More »Er ist wieder da!
Sonnenallee
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… Read More »Sonnenallee
Stereo
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… Read More »Stereo
Herz aus Glas
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… Read More »Herz aus Glas