Contemporary German Writers discussion

Hi all,

I'm looking to watch a few films in German to improve my comprehension skills (maybe with German subtitles too, to make the going a little easier). I've seen Jenseits der Stille and have gotten hold of a few others that have come recommended: Lola Rennt, Goodbye Lenin, Das WeiBe Band.

I've seen Das Boot, Der Untergang, Stalingrad and Das Leben Der Anderen (all a while ago, with english subs). Though they're great films I'm not sure I want to rewatch them right now.

I'd strongly prefer films that are NOT about Nazis or the Holocaust or WW2. Ideally films with clear and reasonably contemporary dialogue.

Would anyone kindly have any recommendations?

Vielen dank!

One of my favourites is Wings of Desire (it does deal with the Nazi period to a point, but mostly about human problems and human divisions, like a divided Berlin, which always comes back as a theme). I also thought that Mostly Martha was wonderful, same with Enlightenment Guaranteed.

And I just got (but have not yet had a chance to watch) a relatively new film on Goethe (Young Goethe in Love, which looks like a story about the events in Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's life that precipitated and influenced his first major work of fiction, Die Leiden des jungen Werther, The Sorrows of Young Werther).

hi howl of minerva, i can recommend you the movie "das experiment". It is inspired by the events of the Stanford prison experiment in the United States.

Pinar wrote: "hi howl of minerva, i can recommend you the movie "das experiment". It is inspired by the events of the Stanford prison experiment in the United States."

That's a great mvie, but in a roundabout way, the novel is about Nazism to an extent (because the experiment ends up making the students act like Nazis, If I'm not mistaken).

Just like with my favourite, Wings of Desire, although the movie is not technically about the Nazis and Nazism, it does seem to come up.

Gundula wrote: "Pinar wrote: "hi howl of minerva, i can recommend you the movie "das experiment". It is inspired by the events of the Stanford prison experiment in the United States."

That's a great mvie, but in..."

yes you´re right gundula it is based on the novel black box by mario giordano. Unfortunately i haven't read it. So i cant compare them.

But you make me really curious to watch your favorite movie :)

Pinar wrote: "Gundula wrote: "Pinar wrote: "hi howl of minerva, i can recommend you the movie "das experiment". It is inspired by the events of the Stanford prison experiment in the United States."

That's a gr..."

Wings of Desire is exquisite (and it also has Pater Falk in it). The sequel, Far Away, So Close, I did not particularly enjoy (and stay away from the American version of Wings of Desire, City of Angels, ugghh, at least that's my humble opinion).

thank you for the hint :) i´ll watch the german version

Pinar wrote: "thank you for the hint :) i´ll watch the german version"

I don't understand why Hollywood keeps doing this. They did it with the amazing French Comedy Trois Hommes et un Couffin (Three Men and a Cradle) as well (Three Men and a Baby was alright, but not nearly as funny or as interesting as the original French version was).

Hi all, thanks for the suggestions! I've seen a few clips from Wings of Desire and it seems much of it is in English. Is that right or were those clips from dubbed versions?

Some people have also suggested the tele-series Heimat, though others have said that the characters speak in dialects which would likely confuse a student. Has anyone seen it and if so, could they comment?

howl of minerva wrote: "Hi all, thanks for the suggestions! I've seen a few clips from Wings of Desire and it seems much of it is in English. Is that right or were those clips from dubbed versions?

Some people have also ..."

There is some in English (the scenes with Peter Falk, of course), but I would not say that most is in English (there are some French parts as well).

I have not seen Heimat, but I know that it is rather popular (dialects could be a problem though).

You might also like the Sissi films (although they are quite sappy and not all that historically accurate).

michael haneke- die klavierspielerin!
an austrian classy! and he won many prices for it !

howl of minerva wrote: "Hi all,

I'm looking to watch a few films in German to improve my comprehension skills (maybe with German subtitles too, to make the going a little easier). I've seen Jenseits der Stille and have g..."


Try some Fassbinder, they are always good as are films by Wim Wenders

I agree with Alex and would add Tom Tykwer to that list of film makers ;)

If you go to http://www.moviepilot.de/liste and search for "Deutsche Filme", for instance, you'll find lists of German movies as well as reviews and ratings for them.

Anna wrote: "I agree with Alex and would add Tom Tykwer to that list of film makers ;)

If you go to http://www.moviepilot.de/liste and search for "Deutsche Filme", for instance, you'll find lists of German mov..."

Ah yes, Tom Tykwer's 'Lola rennt' (Run Lola Run in english)is an absolute favorite of mine:)
was a good and cool film.

I forgot about Lola rennt/Run Lola Run which is a real favorite of mine, too. Thanks for the reminder. I have the DVD and think I will watch it again.

I need also to make a re-watch of this film sometime soon.

What about "Was nützt die Liebe in Gedanken" (Love in Thoughts) with Daniel Brühl and August Diehl. It tells the true story of Paul Krantz and Günther Scheller, who made a suicide pact to kill themselves if they ever find they cannot feel love anymore. (cf. Steglitzer Schülertragödie)

One of my favourite German (non-Nazi) films is 'Kirschblüten Hanami' by Doris Dörrie. The translated English title is 'Cherry Blossoms': http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0910559/

Here some others (not featuring Nazis) I can think of:
- Herr Lehmann
- Die fetten Jahre sind vorbei
- Im Winter ein Jahr
- Was nicht passt, wird passend gemacht

Hi! First I'll just add to the chorus of people singing the praises of Lola Rennt… really, it's phenomenal!!

Also, "Wer früher stirbt ist länger tot" and "Im Juli" are also great films (though the latter goes way into rom-com land...)

Mostly Martha (Bella Martha in German)

I also really enjoyed Goodbye Lenin

I recommend "Barbara" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2178941/?... ), a beautiful film set in 1980s East Germany. And "Oh boy" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1954701/?...). Both of them got pretty easy dialogues to follow even without subtitles.

"Soul Kitchen" is an entertaining comedy… predictable in its outlines, perhaps, but it's fun getting to the conclusion. Moritz Bleibtreu is unexpectedly funny in it.

I like the White Ribbon, which is very clean German and easy to understand. 100 Things and any comedy with Tim Schweiger is fun. Lives of others and Werk ohne Autor are both by a great director. Tom Schilling is also in a series about divided Germany, and is a good actor. As a start.
There was also a movie about "death insurance" that was a very interesting social commentary. Can't remember the name.