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East German Cinema Blog

East German Cinema Blog

A Blog About the Films of East Germany

Category: fairytale

Ol’ Witch

A modern fairytale about two kids in an elevator that descends into a wasteland where they encounter a blind horse, a knight in dirty underwear, a green-haired…… Read more “Ol’ Witch”

January 10, 2021 by Jim Morton

The Blue Light

As I’ve discussed on this blog before, East Germany had an above-average track record on female equality and films about women’s issues, yet there were only a…… Read more “The Blue Light”

July 13, 2019July 13, 2019 by Jim Morton

Sleeping Beauty

The story of Sleeping Beauty (Dornröschen) is old enough that it’s origins are a point of debate. The Grimm Brothers felt the story had enough Germanic elements…… Read more “Sleeping Beauty”

March 22, 2019March 22, 2019 by Jim Morton

Rumpelstiltskin

Kunz (Karl-Heinz Rothin) is a lazy miller who prefers to let his assistant Hans (Reinhard Michalke) do all the milling. When Hans can’t keep up and the…… Read more “Rumpelstiltskin”

November 1, 2018November 1, 2018 by Jim Morton

Snow White

As discussed elsewhere on this blog, fairytale films were the closest thing to a cash cow the East German film industry had to offer. Beloved by East…… Read more “Snow White”

June 2, 2018August 9, 2018 by Jim Morton

Pinocchio

While DEFA was far better at interpreting famous fairytales on film than Hollywood ever was, the fact is, many of the classics are so grotesque that any…… Read more “Pinocchio”

January 14, 2018January 14, 2018 by Jim Morton

Three Hazelnuts for Cinderella

Three Hazelnuts for Cinderella (Drei Haselnüsse für Aschenbrödel) was a co-production between East Germany and Czechoslovakia. DEFA made twelve films in co-production with the ČSSR’s Barrandov Film…… Read more “Three Hazelnuts for Cinderella”

August 13, 2017October 14, 2019 by Jim Morton

Godfather Death

[Note: I received a request to do a review of this film from a reader. If there is any East German film out there that you think…… Read more “Godfather Death”

March 25, 2016January 14, 2017 by Jim Morton

The Tinderbox

Of all the films made in East Germany, the Märchenfilme (fairytale films) fared the best when it came to western distribution. Thanks to kid film friendly companies…… Read more “The Tinderbox”

February 6, 2015February 6, 2015 by Jim Morton

Heart of Stone

On December 8, 1950, DEFA, East Germany’s state-run movie studio, released its first color film. The film was shot in Agfacolor, which was developed for the Nazis…… Read more “Heart of Stone”

December 1, 2013May 5, 2017 by Jim Morton

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