13 German films everyone should watch

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

"Heaven over Berlin", "Goodbye, Lenin!", "Knockin 'on the skies" and other legendary works.

13. Tin drum

• Germany, France, Yugoslavia, Poland, 1979.
• Drama, military.
• Duration: 142 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 5.

Oscar was born in Danzig in the mid-1920s. Moreover, his mother did not know exactly which of her two boyfriends was the father. The boy, at the age of three, became disillusioned with the world of adults, fell down the stairs on purpose and decided never to grow up. In the body of a child, he goes through all the hardships of wartime.

The adaptation of the novel of the same name by Gunther Grass, directed by Volker Schlöndorff, initially caused a lot of scandals. The authors were even accused of distributing child pornography. But years later, the public appreciated the philosophical drama. Today "Tin Drum" is considered one of the main films of the German "new wave".

12. I am Christina

• Germany, 1981.
• Drama, biography.
• Duration: 138 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 6.

Young Christina, who adores the music of David Bowie, falls in love with a guy who is much older than her. To be closer to her lover, the girl begins to take drugs and gradually falls to the very bottom. She spends all her time looking for money for the next dose, prostitution and stealing things. The family is trying to save Christina, but it is very difficult.

This film is based on the autobiographical book of the writer Christiana F. Both the novel and the picture caused an unprecedented resonance in society. The fact is that in West Germany in the late 1970s, a real epidemic of drug addiction among adolescents raged. The general public was unaware of this. It was a rough realistic film that opened up a frightening world for many.

An additional reason for the popularity of the project was the soundtrack written by David Bowie. He even starred in a film, appearing in a concert number.

11. Goodbye, Lenin

• Germany, 2003.
• Drama, melodrama, comedy.
• Duration: 121 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 7.

Christiane lives in East Berlin and single-handedly brings up her son Alex. Stress causes an elderly woman to fall into a coma on the eve of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Eight months later, the heroine comes to her senses, but it is contraindicated for her to worry. Therefore, Alex decides not to inform his mother about the unification of Germany and diligently creates for her the illusion of a socialist life.

In a tragicomic form, the authors of the film tell about the collapse of ideals and adaptation to a new life. Moreover, they very diligently recreated the East German goods of the late 1980s, which, perhaps, will seem familiar to many Russian viewers of the older generation.

10. White tape

• Germany, France, Italy, Austria, 2009.
• Drama, thriller.
• Duration: 144 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 8.

In 1913, terrible crimes take place in a quiet village in northern Germany. Suspicions fall on the children of the local pastor, although they themselves wear white headbands as a symbol of purity. The village teacher tries to figure this out, but it turns out that each villager has his own secrets that no one wants to reveal.

The film was staged by director Michael Haneke, one of the brightest representatives of modern auteur cinematography. As in his previous work "Hidden", the creator reflects on the very nature of violence and the secret corners of the soul of every person. Moreover, Haneke connects actions not only with the individual, but also with the entire society. No wonder the story ends with the outbreak of the First World War.

"White Ribbon" is very popular with film critics. The film won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival and received two Oscar nominations.

9. Nosferatu. Symphony of Horror

• Germany, 1922.
• Horror.
• Duration: 94 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 9.

Real estate agent Thomas Hutter arrives in distant Transylvania to meet with Count Orlok. It turns out that he does not at all look like a person and looks like a terrible monster. Hutter tries to escape from Orlok, but he decided to take possession of his wife Helen.

It was from this film directed by Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau that pictures about vampires began to gain popularity. And even the classic image of the sinister count was born in Nosferatu. Moreover, the director failed to buy the rights to film Bram Stoker's Dracula, so the names of the main characters and the plot were somewhat changed. Which, however, did not save the writer's widow from the claims.

The film, gloomy for its time, even gave rise to a rumor that Murnau had invited a real vampire to play the main role, and the actor Max Shrek tried to eat his colleagues and the film crew. Much later, this myth will be played in the film "Shadow of the Vampire" with John Malkovich and Willem Dafoe.

8. Stroshek

• Germany, 1977.
• Drama, comedy.
• Duration: 115 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 9.

Bruno Stroshek, suffering from a mental disorder, is released from prison. He moonlights as a street musician, but dreams of a better life. For this, the hero, together with his elderly friend and prostitute Eva, goes to the USA. But even there life turns out to be very difficult.

Director Werner Herzog in his films often talks about the life of people rejected by society. Moreover, he wrote the script for this picture in a few days specially for the non-professional actor Bruno S., who was really being treated for mental disorders for a long time.

The film "Stroshek" is called one of the most poignant works of the director. After all, he very vividly and realistically showed a society that destroys the personality of a little person.

7. Knockin 'on Heaven

• Germany, 1997.
• Comedy, crime.
• Duration: 87 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 0.

The terminally ill Martin and Rudy met in the hospital ward. Upon learning that they have been given a few days, the heroes go to the sea, which they have never seen. Only they don't know that the car they stole belongs to the mafia.

The only film by director Thomas Yan that has earned global success is shot in the spirit of Quentin Tarantino's films. Is that it is more lyrical. No wonder the film quickly became a cult and sold out for quotes.

6. Sky over Berlin

• Germany, France, 1987.
• Fantasy, drama, melodrama.
• Duration: 130 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 0.

The inhabitants of Berlin are watched by angels invisible to people. One of them falls in love with a circus acrobat and is ready to fall to the ground for her.

An elegant and at the same time philosophical film by Wim Wenders is visually constructed in a very unusual way. Much of the story is filmed in black and white. But from a certain moment the world becomes colored. This makes you feel the difference in the perception of different characters.

5. Dr. Caligari's office

• Germany, 1920.
• Horror, thriller.
• Duration: 71 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 1.

A young man named Franz tells his story to a new interlocutor. He once encountered the sinister Dr. Caligari. He claimed that he had revealed the secret of somnambulism: his ward Cesare has been sleeping for 23 years and comes to his senses only by order of the owner.

The classic film by Robert Wienet brings together ideas from Hoffmann's books, the film Golem and the personal memories of screenwriter Karl Mayer. Moreover, the authors deliberately made the scenery as unrealistic and distorted as possible, and the actors were forced to replay grotesquely. So they wanted to convey the perception of the world by crazy heroes.

It was with the "Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" that the movement of German cinema expressionism began, from which many horror films later grew.

4. Submarine

• Germany, 1981.
• Drama, thriller.
• Duration: 150 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 3.

In the fall of 1941, the team of a German submarine is sent on a mission. The crew members have not yet thought about the war and on the eve of their departure they are having fun. Also, a war correspondent is sent on a voyage with the team. But soon the boat gets to the scene of hostilities.

Wolfgang Petersen's painting is still considered one of the most realistic works about submariners. The director even banned the actors from shaving during filming and kept them on a strict diet to make them look exhausted and tired, like a real team on a long voyage.

The film also has an extended six-part version, which lasts more than 5 hours. And in 2016, a series of the same name was launched, which continues the history of "Submarine".

3. Metropolis

• Germany, 1927.
• Science fiction, drama.
• Duration: 145 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 3.

In the futuristic city of Metropolis, residents are clearly divided into classes. At the lower levels, in hellish conditions, the proletariat works, at the top, the rich enjoy life. But one day the son of the ruler of Metropolis Freder falls in love with a poor girl and decides to fight injustice.

Director Fritz Lang created the greatest example of cinema expressionism, touching upon topics that have not become obsolete to this day. Moreover, the film looks visually interesting even after a whole century. And references and individual images from Metropolis can be seen in dozens of works, from Blade Runner to Star Wars.

2. M killer

• Germany, 1931.
• Thriller, detective.
• Duration: 108 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 3.

The entire city is worried about the appearance of a sinister maniac who kidnaps and brutally kills children. The police can't figure out the evidence, and the residents are overwhelmed by paranoia. Then the very community of criminals decides to catch the villain.

Another work by Fritz Lang that has become legendary. The plot is based on the real crimes of a maniac called the Dusseldorf Vampire. It is also important that the film appeared at the dawn of sound films, and the director used an unusual technique: he connected the appearance of the villain with a certain musical theme - "In the Cave of the Mountain King" by Edward Grieg.

“M Killer” is a picture that gave birth to many works in the genre of noir - detective stories and crime thrillers, which are so popular in many countries decades later.

1. The life of others

• Germany, France, 2006.
• Drama, thriller, detective.
• Duration: 137 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 4.

In 1984, the Stasi secret service officer Gerd Wiesler receives a task: he must listen to the apartment of the writer Georg Draiman, who had an affair with the actress. Gradually, the spy begins to sympathize with those whom he is ordered to spy on. And when the danger of arrest hangs over Draiman, Wiesler decides to help.

The debut feature film directed by Florian Henkel von Donnersmark proved to be incredibly popular both at home and in other countries. He received 11 nominations for the main German film award Deutscher Filmpreis, which was a record. The Lives of Others also won an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film and many other awards.

Everyone notes the amazing combination of elaboration of historical details with the idea of human rebirth and the disclosure of the issue of personal choice in a totalitarian society.