Discoveries from Germany World Cinema

A documentary by Hans Günther Pflaum and Peter H. Schröder.

The film talks about the rise and fall of the two most influential protagonists in GDR-politics. In succession, over long stretches even together, Ulbricht and Honecker determined the course of the GDR, of course without ever getting out of being a satellite state to the big brother in Moscow. The film looks for the caesura and crucial points in the power game between Ulbricht and Honecker.

Nick and Charlotte are a married couple. As both are more than busy earning money, there is no time for love or sex - only Tuesdays. Soon, Charlotte finds a lover, Luis, who is an unsuccessful, married artist. He and his wife Eva also have no time for sex, as Eva has to support her artist and the couple's 3 and 6 year old kids by working in a restaurant. The secret affair of Luis and Charlotte lasts quite a while, they decide to spend a romantic week in Venice, Italy. But by accident, Eva finds out about the couple and their destination. She forces Nick, Charlotte's husband, to join her on a trip to Venice in order to restore her marriage as well as his.

Opera style film in which a crook offers to change ties with a waiter, so he can escape. The waiter ends up getting involved with a rich American lady who takes him to Florida.

When pregnant Maria starts readying her fiancé’s family estate for bed and breakfast guests, something isn’t right; the power seems to be on the blink and strange noises become all too common. Determined to find the truth, Maria soon begins to realise that darker secrets than she could imagine are lurking in this house, and her soon-to-be-family’s past.

For Marko, life mainly consists of frozen pizzas and back pain. For almost 30 years, the widower has been hauling frozen goods for the company "Eisland" to the front doors of his mostly older customers. When Marko has to take early retirement due to illness, his life gets into imbalance. Thereby Marko has only one goal: his studying son should have it better one day. Lawyer or judge, that would be something. The main thing is no work where you have to wear a name tag. The decease of an old female customer unexpectedly opens up a whole new business model for Marko. Unfortunately, he reckoned without the nosy neighbors. To make matters worse, his own son also finds out about it. Marko's house of cards threatens to collapse. Then he meets his idol Roland Kaiser at the bar.

Episodic film based on four plays (‘Der Hund im Hirn’, ‘Lohengrin’, ‘Der Mörder’, and ‘Minna Magdalena’) by Curt Goetz, each with Carl-Heinz Schroth in the leading role.

Five young Europeans (German, English, and Irish) try to find answers to life's questions in India and Thailand.

In the idyllic river landscape of the Elbe, two sets of parents share a farm and the upbringing of their children. When 12-year-old Aaron disappears during a summer festival, unresolved conflicts within the community come to light: the boy is struggling at school, and the adults must also face up to their own lies and crises.

After eighteen years of marriage, Alice finds herself confronted with the fact that her husband Frank feels more and more attracted to men. Not only Frank, but also she and their three children undergo an irreversible change.

GDR 1961: Tamara Bunke, daughter of Jewish exiles from Argentina, not only falls for the political goals of the rousing revolutionary Che Guevara during a state visit. She also meets Ulises Estrada, the commandant of Che's team. Ignited by the fire of the revolution, she gets involved in a diabolical espionage deal with the Stasi in order to cheat her way out of Cuba. In Cuba, she ends up caught between all fronts: under the watchful eye of the Stasi, which expects results from her, but in reality solely dedicated to Che's revolution, Tamara allows herself to be trained as a double spy by Che's troops. At the same time, her honest love grows for Commandante Ulises, who eventually gives her the choice of following her personal happiness and going into hiding rather than following Che's plans to liberate South America, which by now he considers a suicide mission. An unresolvable, deeply tragic conflict that ends fatally for Tamara in the battle of Bolivia's Rio Grande..

Loni is a femme fatale who lives a depraved life with several lovers. She plunges her husband to ruin without any remorse. The film was banned shortly after the opening night.

This is another variation of the Cinderella story: the bright and beautiful Ella lives in the household of a lord since her mother died. She's unhappy because the lord's daughters treat her like their servant. The country is in problems, because the prince is a dreamer and doesn't realize that his chancellor abuses his power. When the day nears the prince is forced by law to find a wife, a celebration on a frozen lake is arranged. Ella manages to skate on the lake for him too, hiding her identity. The prince falls in love with her, so he tries to find her. His chancellor attempts to hinder them, since he knows about Ella's critical thoughts.

The important German wood sculptor Tilman Riemenschneider (born around 1460) is considered to be artistically and socially established. He was a councillor in Würzburg and held several offices. In his works and in the way he conducted his office, he showed himself to be connected to the common people, who revered him. But he also had a patron in the art-loving Prince-Bishop Konrad von Thüngen. But when the peasants' uprising spread to Würzburg in 1525, Riemenschneider stood up for the rights of the peasants and opposed the use of soldiers, Thüngen became his bitter opponent. Although he initially flees from the superior forces, he returns after the uprising has been suppressed and imprisons Riemenschneider. Weeks later, he is released from prison. His hands were broken, but not his steadfastness.

In the late 70s, young Petra Grust begins teaching at the progressive Odenwald School. She is flattered by the trust placed in her by its widely respected headmaster Simon Pistorius. But gradually certain incidents at the boarding school begin to unsettle her. Petra then realizes that Pistorius is abusing Frank, a 13-year-old. When Frank is told that he has to spend school holidays with Pistorius, he tries to commit suicide. Petra tells Frank's father (the chairman of the school's governing body) but he believes Pistorius instead of his own son. Petra fails to convince people of the man's true nature. 30 years later, Frank goes to Petra, who has long since left the school and has stopped teaching altogether. He has never been able to speak about what happened but now, after the suicide of another pupil, he is no longer willing to remain silent. He wants Petra to bear witness at the school's forthcoming anniversary celebrations.

The sex is great, and Hubertus and Charlotte have been one heart and one soul for years. It doesn't even bother Charlotte that she is married to Hubertus' unsuspecting brother Balthasar. But then Anastasia turns up at Hubertus' veterinary practice with her sick dog. The seductive Russian woman whispers a few pleasantries in the naïve doctor's ear and his hormones jump in triangles. Hubertus reinvents himself, dumps Charlotte - and discovers that Anastasia is the mistress of his snobbish surgeon brother Balthasar. Brave Hubertus decides to fight - the only question is for whom...

Lotte Reiniger's interpretation of Grimm's recorded version of Aschenputtel (Cinderella) from 1922.

Der 10. Mai (The Tenth of May) was the date in 1940 that Hitler invaded the Low Countries: Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg. Neutral Switzerland, which hadn't experienced a war since the 14th century, hurriedly fortified its borders with battalions of inexperienced soldiers. The panic, confusion and isolated acts of courage which occurred on that fateful day are re-created in this Swiss docudrama. The story is "personalized" by concentrating on a fugitive German soldier (Heinz Reincke) who falls in love with the Swiss girl (Linda Geiser) who shelters him. Produced on a bare-minimum budget, Der 10. Mai is impressive more for its sincerity and raw energy than for its actual cinematic merits.

For decades, "Soups Hansen" was on everyone's lips, but now threatens the old-established operation of the end. The reasons for the decline are homemade: in modern times the tastes have changed, the soup of the idiosyncratic manufacturer unfortunately not. The bank wants to save the traditional house, but the new loan is subject to one condition: company boss Theo Hansen must hand over the business to his son, who now cooks his own soup ... Edzard Onneken staged this comedy with Günther Maria Halmer in the role of aging patriarch who can not let go.

Angela Merkel's decision in autumn 2015 to open the borders for refugees split the country - some praised the moral stance, others criticized the surrender of sovereignty. Yet what would appear to be well-planned activity is in reality a policy of muddling along, chance, trial and error. The Driven Ones is a chronicle of the refugee crisis which shows that the political actors are being driven along, crushed between self-imposed constraints and events that have spun out of control.

A plane leaving the turmoil of a South American country in the midst of a revolution crash-lands in the Amazon jungle in Brazil. Among the passengers are a corrupt banker who is smuggling diamonds out of the country, a reporter, a mysterious beauty and a shady flight attendant. The survivors find themselves up against not only the dangers of the jungle itself but a band of headhunters and a gang of revolutionaries who are looking for the smuggled diamonds.

The Fischbach brothers and their families live next door to each other just outside Vienna. Hubert works for an oil company, Viktor runs an organic food store. When a climate protection competition is announced in the community, it's all about who uses less energy. The compost is felted and the effect of soap nuts is relied upon. The brothers' increasingly childish squabbling also drives their wives up the wall - and turns the petty war into delicious fun against narrow-minded over-correctness.

A chronicle of the life and successful career of American actor Jeff Bridges, who for many years was a star reluctant to shine, until the hardworking and discreet actor crossed paths with a character who became a pop culture icon.

A 14-year-old girl is found murdered in the park. As the police suspect a sexually motivated crime, ‘Die Sitte’ is called in - a special squad of the criminal investigation department. Public prosecutor Marion Brandt, detective Hannah Koch and detective Leonard Winkler question the family and investigate the dead girl's circle of friends. Behind the façade of an ideal world, they come across a thicket of feelings of hate, love, envy and jealousy.

A short film by Maren Ade, using re-cut material from 'Everyone Else'.

Three girls summon a demon. John Sinclair, a British investigator for supernatural phenomena, travels to Germany to meet Kerstin who is the only girl left. But the demon wants to sacrifice her in the old cathedral of Cologne.

Marriage swindler Herbert Krugschenk is a master of his trade. His success is based on meticulous planning, and his wife "Schnuck" is responsible for this. Herbert's life is promptly turned upside down when she dumps him one day. At least the way is now clear for the big coup that his wife has always warned him about: Herbert and his son travel to Switzerland to make a pass at rich widows and fail all along the line.

After Sumsemann the beetle loses one of his arms to a troll, he invites brother and sister Peterchen and Annaliese to join him on a journey to the moon in a quest to retrieve his lost arm.

The story centers on the Roman merchant Piacchi, who raises the foundling Nicolo after the death of his son and bequeaths all his possessions to the young man. However, the adopted son turns against Piacchi and his wife.

A film director confides in his interlocutor. He talks about the working process, about creative blocks, about artistic crises and expressive forces. At some point, the idea takes hold that this conversation could be turned into a film. And this is the very film we’re watching the two of them in.

Prison guard falls in love with inmate. She wants him to let her escape.

Ben (11) and Tariq (12) have more in common than they realise. Both are new to school and football and have lost their homeland. Ben's village will soon became an open brown coal mine. He and his family move to a nearby city but Ben fails to fit in at his new school. Bullied, he returns secretly to his old, abandoned home. His one pleasure, football, pales with the arrival of Tariq, a Syrian refugee and better player. But when bureaucracy stops Tariq playing, he runs away, Ben finds him and learns that Tariq is desperate to be reunited with his scattered family. Jealousy on the football field becomes friendship and understanding.

Documentary satire about a project by Christoph Schlingensief: Ten years after his TV project "Talk 2000", Schlingensief started to work on a new talk show – at least that was what he claimed. But in reality, it was obvious that the pilot episodes he produced would never be broadcasted. Nevertheless, all celebrities from the political and cultural sphere, Schlingensief had requested, accepted his invitation, including the filmmaker Oskar Roehler, the televangelist Jürgen Fliege, the politician Claudia Roth, or the rapper Sido. It is beyond question, that the talk show panel took an unconventional course directly from the start – and was soon threatening to turn into an uproar.

“Luxury, luxury, luxury… and not to be so alone.” Vanessa wants to spend her holiday at a comfortable resort. However, due to a booking error at the travel agents, Vanessa ends up on a barren desert island. The next ship doesn’t arrive for another week, so until then she has to cope with oddball lighthouse keeper Stanislav, and the highly unconventional and nonchalant Sebastian, who also has a right to the only shabby guest room. There’s no escape from this island – and the three gradually get to know each other over schnapps and pie. When a further guest arrives in the form of dubious businessman Felix and a body turns up in Stanislav’s cellar, the insular resort becomes the backdrop for a grotesque fight for life. In his debut feature, Matthias J. Michel cleverly repels various genre and character clichés to create an exceptional black comedy.

Mobsters conspire to loot another criminal's treasure secured in an enormous booby-trapped vault.

A criminal cab driver is looking for the culprit behind the death of his little brother and meets the head doctor treating him. When he gets into a cab drunk two years after the loss of his patient, he has no idea of the family drama that will soon develop into a thriller.

Daniel Käfer's time out in Ausseerland is coming to an end. He has to focus on his new career. But his journey ends in Hallstatt. His acquaintance with the young Gerd Gamsjäger and his mother leads to dramatic events. In his exuberance, Käfer causes a serious accident that almost costs his young friend his life. In an effort to make amends, he gets himself into even more trouble: with a dubious treasure map, he initiates excavations in search of a man in the salt. A huge embarrassment or the start of a new future?

In a driving school, three women of different ages meet for the so-called idiot test. There is a close friendship between the women. Annette, Katja and Isabel unite dislike for the macho driving instructor Marius, but also enthusiasm for Erik, who also has to undergo retraining. The three ladies have to recognize the problems in their lives and get a grip on them.

Anne leaves her childless countryside life when her husband refuses a family and moves in with actress sister Viola. Taxi driver Henrik accidentally rents Viola’s spare room and instantly bonds with Anne. While Anne and Henrik grow close, Viola’s whims lead to an unexpected pregnancy.

A pampered American oyster tycoon decides to buy a husband for his daughter, but things don’t go quite as planned. Along the way there are mishaps, misunderstandings and a foxtrot sequence that must be seen to be believed.

Jones is called in when others want to kill. Jones works quickly, precisely, successfully. His clients pay the price he demands without question—the lone killer can be relied upon. Jones arrives in the city on the early train. He looks exhausted. He will need this day to take care of the boss of Warner-Trans. Alexander Scrooge provides him with the necessary information. Everything else is routine: observing the victim, determining the angle of the shot at the scene of the crime, preparing the alibi. When he is about to kill, the unexpected happens. The Warner boss is on his guard. Has the middleman Alexander betrayed the assignment? Is the client Franketti playing a dirty game? Or is Abraham, the big boss whom Franketti can't compete with, pulling the strings? Jones was used to clean work. Now he's caught between two gangs. Jane, a beautiful young woman, decides his fate.

Margarethe von Trotta's TV movie focuses on a woman whose life is destroyed by her addiction to alcohol. Angela Rinser is a happy mother of two children and quite successful in her job as bilingual secretary. The sudden death of her husband changes everything. She starts drinking and loses her job. Her children Felicitas and Max try to hush up their social decline for years because they don't want to live in a foster home.

Jürgen Stoll is not only a Filou and life artist, but the darling of many women. When the marriage swindler is given the choice, prison in the GDR or a career as "Romeo" in the FRG, he decides to go to the West. Stoll now plays in the big game of secret agents until he realizes that the Stasi still has very different plans with him.

After his mother's death, 17-year-old Sven moves in with his dad Achim, a taxi driver, who had divorced his mother several years earlier. It is not easy for Achim to get used to an adolescent around the house, especially since Sven hardly speaks to him. But Sven does well in school, and Achim hopes that time will bring them closer together. It is Achim's girlfriend Julia who first senses that something is wrong with Sven. Why, she wonders, does he always hang around with young boys? Why does not he have any friends his own age? She suspects that he is gay. The truth, however, is somewhat more nuanced - and chilling: Sven has pedophile tendencies. Proof is soon found on videos that shock and sicken Achim. Sven himself is shattered and regrets his actions. Julia suggests therapy, but Achim is convinced that he and Sven can handle this together. But he is wrong. Though Sven practically begs his father to lock him up in his room, Achim has confidence in his son.

Anna is a primary school teacher and a nervous wreck. The pupils do whatever they want to her. Thilo is an actor - but mainly on his business card. To earn money, he sells wine in a call center, or rather, he tries to. One day, mutual friends Valerie and Moritz play fate and bring the two together. But this also goes wrong: Anna has a minor nervous breakdown and Thilo - falls in love! Head over heels! But first they have to solve their own problems, face up to their reality and admit that they need to change something in their lives. And gradually Anna and Thilo find their way back to themselves and to each other, because life writes the most beautiful stories with love and music...

Harry has been partying for 48 hours when he meets Johannes on the dance floor of a club in Berlin. With 15 hours until his flight home, Johannes offers to help him print his boarding pass. This mundane task leads to a day together wandering the city. The contrasts in their lives and values force each one to confront their own truths.

Police sergeant Holm Brendel follows the trail of prominent Swedish crime writer Arvid Johansson in Ystad. Former public prosecutor Karin Lossow accompanies Holm on the private trip. On the ferry back to Usedom, she meets Dana Driest, a native of Poland. She has a conspicuous hematoma on her cheek. Was she a victim of domestic violence? The next day, Karin sees Dana's husband Jochen driving off the ferry in his SUV - without his wife.

Longtime friends, Mehdi and Hamid, work for a collection agency. They crisscross the villages of southern Morocco in their old car and share double rooms in shabby hotels. They are exactly the same size, and wear the same suits and ties, as well as the same shoes. Paid nearly nothing, they try to play hard to make good figures. One day, in a gas station planted in the middle of the desert, a motorcycle parks in front of them. A man is handcuffed to the luggage rack, threatening. It’s the Evader. Their meeting marks the beginning of an unforeseen and mystical journey.

Pjotr Pawlenski was arrested after various artistic demonstrations against the russian regime. It's a film about his scandalous protest for example pinning his genatiles on the Red Square in Moscow and his motivation and inspiration fighting to be seen and heard.

Nick Neufeld was abused by some classmates, and a judge sentences the main offender to 120 hours of gardening. All good? No: mother Beate sees that Nick is skipping school out of fear and withdrawing more and more. She wants the perpetrators to be expelled from school and the teachers to be held accountable. But for others, the case has long since been closed...

After the death of his father, the ambitious farmhand Hauke Haien works his way up to become the successor to the old dyke count, whose daughter Elke he marries. He develops plans for the construction of a new dyke to provide better protection against storm surges, but encounters resistance and inertia from the villagers, who superstitiously suspect him of being in league with the devil. As a heavy storm approaches, he chases towards the floods with his white horse...

Adaptation of the classic fairytale. Rapunzel lives alone in the woods, in a tower with no doors. Then, one day, a mysterious stranger comes for a visit.

Erich Honecker ruled the GDR for 18 years. His fall in 1989 heralded the downfall of the state that had called itself "the better Germany" for 40 years. Nazi victim and autocrat, bourgeois and power-conscious: Honecker was an ideological hardliner who coordinated the construction of the Wall in 1961 and whose regime was known as an unjust state for Wall deaths, firing orders, the Stasi and forced adoptions. In the wake of the fall of communism, the former model socialist fell into homelessness and found himself on the run in his own country. Suffering from cancer, he managed to evade responsibility before a court by emigrating to Chile, where he died in 1994. This gripping documentary portrays the rise and fall of this contradictory German politician with an impressive array of top-class international and national contemporary witnesses. Erich Honecker would have been 100 years old on August 25, 2012.

To save his grumpy father's Persian butcher's shop, Mohsen, a sensitive scarf-knitter, buys sheep on the cheap. On the way to them, he gets stranded in East Germany and falls in love with ex-ball-striker Ana. In the village, Mohsen's father is thought to be a rich businessman who could save the region. Mohsen becomes very popular. But then his father turns up.