A guide to what to watch while your stuck at home during the pandemic. Here are a few you East German films with English subtitles that are…… Read more “What Should I Watch?”
Author: Jim Morton
I am a writer and film historian. I have written extensively on unique film genres. My work has appeared in several books and magazines. I currently reside in San Francisco.
Do You Know Urban?
In Do You Know Urban? (Kennen Sie Urban?) a man’s search for a man named “Urban” takes his life in an entirely new direction. While recuperating in…… Read more “Do You Know Urban?”
Pension Boulanka
A murder has been committed at the Pension Boulanka, but there are too many suspects. Here’s a classic example of a German Krimi, East German-style. A few…… Read more “Pension Boulanka”
What Would Happen If…?
When a car full of strangers arrives in Willshagen, the rumors start to fly. The action in What Would Happen If…? (Was wäre, wenn…?) takes place in…… Read more “What Would Happen If…?”
Seitensprung
While I normally use the English language title for my heading, I’ve decided to go with the German title on this one. There are a number of…… Read more “Seitensprung”
The Condemned Village
If you look up The Condemned Village (Das verurteilte Dorf) on Wikipedia (either the English or the German version) you’ll find it described as a “propaganda film.”…… Read more “The Condemned Village”
The Man from the Cap Arcona
In 1982, Erwin Geschonneck starred in the East German television movie The Man from the Cap Arcona (Der Mann von der Cap Arcona). In it, Geschonneck plays…… Read more “The Man from the Cap Arcona”
A Girl of 16½
A popular wall poster for the young people who opposed the Vietnam War read: “War is unhealthy for children and other living things.” After World War II,…… Read more “A Girl of 16½”
Liane
At the start of Liane, we see the films namesake applying for a part in a film being shot at the electrical company where she works. Immediately,…… Read more “Liane”
The Teleplays of Christa Kulosa
A popular format on East German TV was the teleplay. These were videotaped on stage in front of a live audience. In America, you’ll see this most…… Read more “The Teleplays of Christa Kulosa”
