Russendisko
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…
Into the Beat – dein Herz tanzt
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…
So was von da
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…
Berlin Calling
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…
Groupies bleiben nicht zum Frühstück
This 2010 rom-com has a target audience of young teenagers and preteens. The plot brings an exchange student back to Germany from America and meeting a rockstar whom she doesn’t know. Kostja Ullmann plays our…
Groupies bleiben nicht zum Frühstück
This 2010 rom-com has a target audience of young teenagers and preteens. The plot brings an exchange student back to Germany from America and meeting a rockstar whom she doesn’t know. Kostja Ullmann plays our…
Bibi und Tina
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…
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 underground culture in Berlin in this time to the struggles…
Vitus
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,…
Falco: verdammt, wir leben noch
This 2008 film is based on the life of Austrian Falco (AKA Johann Hölzel). The film begins in English, in the Dominican Republic, where Falco lost his life. We then see little Hansi as a…
Die abhandene Welt
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…
Ebbie’s Bluff
Another one of Til Schweiger’s early films, the beginning of this 1993 film might be interesting for boxing fans. Beyond that, however, we find a man looking for a new direction in life, seeing himself…
Lili Marleen
This 1981 film, directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder, is a West German production, but several of the actors are speaking other languages and then are dubbed into German, which may be distracting for some viewers.…
Joyeux Noel
Merry Christmas takes place during World War I. The movie is done in German, French, and English (Scottish accents), allowing each of the sides to be played by actors from the actual countries. We are…
Homies
Known as HipHop Express in the American market, this 2010 film is basically a mixture of Step Up and 8 Mile, but in a PG version. Jimi Blue Ochsenknecht plays the main character, a boy…
Pünktchen und Anton
This 1999 version of Erich Kästner’s novel centers around a young boy and girl who are best friends with completely different home lives. Anton’s situation (single mother who is sick and unable to work) may…
Gloomy Sunday – ein Lied von Liebe und Tod
This film is a story of a love triangle, surrounding a pianist, a restauranteur, and a woman who once dreamed of and studied to become a concert vocalist. The film takes place during WWII, though…
Harmonists
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…