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East German Cinema Blog

East German Cinema Blog

A Blog About the Films of East Germany

Category: Günter Reisch

The Fiancée

The Fiancée (Die Verlobte) is a grim film that offers very few moments of levity during its hour and forty-five minute running time. It’s a women-in-prison film,…… Read more “The Fiancée”

October 7, 2018October 7, 2018 by Jim Morton

The Karl Liebknecht Films

In 1954 and 1955, director Kurt Maetzig made two films devoted to the life of communist pioneer Ernst Thälmann. Later, Maetzig would say he was embarrassed by…… Read more “The Karl Liebknecht Films”

March 31, 2018March 31, 2018 by Jim Morton

Wolz – Life and Illusion of a German Anarchist

From the first frame of the opening credits, Wolz lets you know that it will be taking a lighthearted look at an otherwise serious subject. The theme…… Read more “Wolz – Life and Illusion of a German Anarchist”

December 9, 2017December 9, 2017 by Jim Morton

The Sailors’ Song

The Sailors’ Song (Das Lied der Matrosen) is a dramatic retelling of the Kiel Mutiny, a revolt by sailors in 1918. The event helped end World War…… Read more “The Sailors’ Song”

April 6, 2017December 9, 2017 by Jim Morton

Track in the Night

In America, we tend to parse out films about crime into specific categories, such as heist films, detective films, film noir, mysteries, and so on. In both…… Read more “Track in the Night”

February 14, 2016February 11, 2017 by Jim Morton

New Year’s Eve Punch

As mentioned elsewhere on this blog, the East German government had a rocky relationship with musicals. The inherent frivolity of the genre clashed mightily with the government’s…… Read more “New Year’s Eve Punch”

December 12, 2015December 12, 2015 by Jim Morton

Anton the Magician

Of all the surprises that East German films bring to American viewers, the biggest one—excluding the psychedelia of In the Dust of the Stars, which is guaranteed…… Read more “Anton the Magician”

March 15, 2015 by Jim Morton

Like Father, Like Son

Since the early days of cinema, there have been sequels. Thomas Dixon Jr.—the man who wrote the book upon which The Birth of a Nation was based—attempted…… Read more “Like Father, Like Son”

January 10, 2014February 18, 2017 by Jim Morton

A Lively Christmas Eve

There is something in human nature that requires a Winter Solstice celebration. It doesn’t matter if you are a Christian, an atheist, a pagan, or a Jew,…… Read more “A Lively Christmas Eve”

December 22, 2013February 18, 2017 by Jim Morton
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