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Jim Knopf und Lukas der Lokomotivführer

This post is specially covering the four-episode Augsburger Puppenkiste collection from 1977 and not the film remake of 2018. This film is recommended for ages 3+ and does lean young. That being said, the language… Jim Knopf und Lukas der Lokomotivführer

Leberkäs Junkie

A Eberhoferkrimi, this 2019 film is a continuation of stories that began in 2013 with Dampfnudelblues and continues through 2022 with Guglhupfgeschwader so far. (It appears as if they may have spun off from a… Leberkäs Junkie

Tschick

Known in the US as Goodbye Berlin, this 2016 film is available to stream in the US with ads on Tubi and is rated TV-MA. In plays from here with English subtitles, which are at… Tschick

Das schaurige Haus

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

Plisch und Plum

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

Max und Moritz

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

Struwwelpeter

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

Die wilden Hühner

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

Das kleine Gespenst

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

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 the sea. Giving a different view of the war from… Das Boot

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 Köhler, also played Eva Braun in Der Untergang. Her husband… Nirgendwo in Afrika

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

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

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

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

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

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

Frau Ella

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Matthias Schweighöfer plays a taxi driver in this 2013 film who has some major life issues come up as we come in. Frau Ella is played by Ruth-Maria Kubitschek, who was born before WWII in… Frau Ella