60 Years of German Cinema – Highlights

17 – 22 Jan 2011
Goethe

From Goethe Institut:
Throughout the year 2010, we were deeply immersed in the history of German cinema as well as in the history of Germany itself. Films from six decades have opened a window and told stories of their times. We now have the opportunity to see once again the most popular films in this series – 60 years of German cinema in six days.

The films will be screened in German with English subtitles and simultaneous Vietnamese translation via headphones at Goethe Institut.

Free entrance, no tickets

Another “Germany in Vietnam 2010” event. See our Feature Page for info on more events celebrating German Year on Vietnam.

The 50s
Mon 17 Jan 2011, 7.30 pm
Sky Without Stars (Himmel ohne Sterne) (1955)
Director: Helmut Käutner
Germany of 1952 is prior to the Berlin war. Anna lives in the Eastern part, while her son lives with his grandparents in the West. She regularly secretly passes the border to visit him, and during her trips, she gets to know a border guard. They then fall in deep love. However, the only chance for them to see each other is at fallow train station. The story developed into a tragedy, like a denouncement of the unnatural border line that tears Germany apart. “Sky without stars” has received many German and international cinema awards.

The 60s
Tue 18 Jan 2011, 7.30 pm
The Divided Heaven (Der geteilte Himmel)(1964)
Director: Konrad Wolf
“The Divided Heaven”, based on the famous novel by Christa Wolf, is a tragic love story in the time of a divided Germany. Rita and Manfred have just fallen in love. But their different political attitudes about the two German states put their love to the test. When Manfred leaves the GDR and goes to the West, Rita must make a decision.
“The Divided Heaven”, forbidden by the East German censors shortly after its premiere, uniquely captures the atmosphere in the time of the two Germanys, which alternated between paralysis and an atmosphere of departure.

The 70s
Wed 19 Jan 2011, 7.30 pm
The Legend of Paul and Paula (Die Legende von Paul und Paula) (1973)
Director: Heiner Carow
Ulrich Plenzdorf’s screenplay tells the story of Paul and Paula. Paul is unhappily married and begins a passionate affair with his single neighbor Paula, whom he meets in a nightclub. Paula feels like she is in seventh heaven, but Paul is distanced, fearing for his marriage and career. After Paula loses one of her two children in a tragic accident, she too distances herself. This causes Paul to realize the depth of his love for her and he begins to fight for her. They become a couple and soon Paula is pregnant. The doctors advise her to abort the pregnancy for health reasons. But Paula decides to have the child in spite of the warnings.
The Legend of Paul and Paula was one of the most successful films ever in the GDR, and today enjoys cult film status. In Berlin, there is even a stretch of pathway along the riverbank that is named after the film.

The 80s
Thu 20 Jan 2011, 7.30 pm
Wings of Desire (Der Himmel über Berlin) (1987)
Director: Wim Wenders
The angels Damiel and Cassiel dare to contradict God and are sent to earth aspunishment. They wander around Berlin, visible only to children, and surrender themselves to the endless fascination of human existence. They stroll through the minds of people, eavesdrop on random thoughts and dream of experiencing even the simplest of sensations. When Damiel falls in love with the trapeze artist Marion, he takes the irreversible step of becoming mortal, leaving heaven behind. In images magical, airily beautiful, euphoric and deeply sad, film director Wim Wenders offers us poetry made film.
For his masterpiece Der Himmel über Berlin Wenders was named Best Director at the Cannes Film Festival.

The 90s
Fri 21 Jan 2011, 7.30 pm
Beyond Silence (Jenseits der Stille) (1996)
Director: Caroline Link
Lara is the daughter of deaf-mute parents and is fluent in sign language. Since she was a young child, the bright girl has been at her parents’ side in order to server as interpreter. But when her aunt gives her a clarinet and she discovers her love for the world of music, the parents are uncomprehending. Because they have no access to music, they feel excluded and react angrily. Ten years later, Lara, now an accomplished clarinetist, decides to move to Berlin to study at the conservatory, resulting in a fierce dispute. And later, when Lara visits home after her mother’s sudden death, it is still unclear if she and her father can re-establish their relationship.
Beyond Silence is the cinema debut of Oscar winner Caroline Link and is outstanding for its equally sensitive and humorous handling of an unusual theme.

The 00s
Sat 22 Jan 2011, 7.30 pm
The Lives of Others (Das Leben der Anderen) (2006)
Director: Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
East Berlin 1984. The state is listening. With its gigantic surveillance apparatus the Stasi (State Security) searches for the enemies of socialism. The free-spirited novelist Georg Dreyman (Sebastian Koch) also falls into the crosshairs of the official watchers. Stasi captain Gerd Wiesler (Ulrich Mühe) is assigned to collect incriminating material against him. It soon becomes clear however, that the observations have been ordered for private reasons by a higher authority who wants information about Dreymann’s lover – the theater star Christa-Maria Sieland (Martina Gedeck). The deeper Wiesler digs into the private world of the couple, the more he changes personally.

The Oscar-winning drama Das Leben der Anderen from director Florian Henckel von Donnersmar was also the recipient of many awards in Germany, including the Bavarian Film Prize and the German Film Prize. At the Locarno International Film Festival it won the People’s Choice Award, in France the Cesar for Best Foreign Film.