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Hilfe

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At 92 minutes long, this 1991 film is labeled as a short film, which is quite interesting considering most movies meant for children are around this length. This is marketed as a “Freaky Friday” movie… Hilfe

Ostwind 1 und 2

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

Stauffenberg

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Known in the U.S. as Operation Valkyrie, this 2004 film is a German version of the Tom Cruise film, which came 4 years later. And it’s even rated PG-13, so it is viewable in most… Stauffenberg

Freche Mädchen

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Disclaimer: this film has a sequel. This post is strictly about the first film, released in 2008. Much of this film takes place in school, in the 8th grade. It includes thought processing during a… Freche Mädchen

Die wilden Kerle

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Disclaimer: this is the first film in a series of 6, released between 2003 and 2016. This post covers only the first film. Actor brothers Jimi Blue Ochsenknecht and Wilson Gonzalez star in this film,… Die wilden Kerle

Harmonists

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This 1997 film is based on the true story of the musical group The Comedian Harmonists, who were very popular in the years before WWII.  As some of the members were Jewish, the war meant… Harmonists

Bin ich schön?

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This 1998 film is labeled as a comedy/drama. We start in Spain.  We don’t really know the characters’ stories, though we slowly learn pieces as we go.  The characters all simply want to feel beautiful.… Bin ich schön?

Europa Europa

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Released in 1990, this film is a story of WWII, based on the book of the same title, which is a true story. Solomon Perel plays himself in the present day pieces. It’s the story… Europa Europa

Tannöd

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This 2009 film is an interesting suspense/mystery.  We hear the difference in the ways of speech between generations, which is in itself an intriguing study.  The older the generation, the more likely they are to… Tannöd

Im Juli

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Released in 2000, Im Juli is a romantic comedy. Moritz Bleibtreu plays a student teacher named Daniel.  Single and without much luck in love in the past, he meets a couple women who surprise him… Im Juli

Bibi Blocksberg

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This 2002 movie is a family-friendly film about growing up a witch.  Bibi’s mother is a witch, but her father isn’t. One might be reminded of Bewitched, mixed with a little Sabrina the Teenage Witch.… Bibi Blocksberg

Liebe Mauer

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Released in 2009, this movie is set in 1989 along the East/West Berlin border. We meet Franzi as she moves into an apartment right next to a crossing.  She lives in the West and crosses… Liebe Mauer

Aguirre, der Zorn Gottes

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This Werner Herzog film from 1972 is categorized as adventure-drama and features Klaus Kinski as Don Lope de Aguirre. Kinski was a key player in German film, especially back in the 1970s. He played Nosferatu… Aguirre, der Zorn Gottes

Kebab Connection

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This movie, released in 2004, is a comedy based in Berlin, largely focused on the German and Turkish-German cultures as they merge.  Our main character, Ibo, is a Turkish German who is obsessed with Kung… Kebab Connection

Alles auf Zucker

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This movie, released in 2004, follows a journalist of Jewish descent, who is uncomfortable with the changes in Berlin since 1989.  We meet the family as they go through the loss of his mother, and… Alles auf Zucker

Zettl

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This 2012 film is a comedy in the form of satire, created by the same man who gave us Bullyparade, Traumschiff Surprise, Lissi und der wilde Kaiser, and Schuh des Manitu.  We follow Max Zettl,… Zettl

Jakob der Lügner

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This 1975 film takes place in 1944 Poland in a Ghetto. It was remade in Hollywood with Robin Williams in 1999. It’s meant to be a comedy, but even the Robin Williams version is classified… Jakob der Lügner

Bella Martha

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Known as Mostly Martha in the States, this 2001 movie was redone only a few years later in Hollywood as No Reservations, which starred George Clooney and Catherine Zeta-Jones. We meet Martha, an uptight chef… Bella Martha

Der Fall Gleiwitz

This 1961 film is in black and white and shows Germany at the beginning of WWII, as Germany was justifying the invasion of Poland. This film is from East Germany. Given the release year, this… Der Fall Gleiwitz

Friendship!

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This 2010 film takes place shortly after reunification, with a short introduction in the DDR past.  We follow two young men from East Germany who decide to fly to America with their new-found freedom.  They… Friendship!

Winterschläfer

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Released in 1997, this film is rightly classified as a romantic drama.  The story focuses on a ski instructor and a translator, a car accident, and death.  This film is directed by Tom Tykwer, the… Winterschläfer