The Next Wave in German Films

[JSpira]

TO judge from the German films that have made their way onto the world stage in the last few years German cinema is drawn almost obsessively to the nation’s historical landmarks, of which there is clearly no shortage. Recent award-winning exports have taken on Nazis (“Downfall” (http://movies.nytimes.com/gst/movies/titlelist.html?v_idlist=89905;344533;293961&inline=nyt_ttl)), the Stasi police state (“The Lives of Others” (http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/350173/The-Lives-of-Others/overview)) and the pains of reunification (“Good Bye Lenin!”).
Skip to next paragraph (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/10/movies/10lim.html?hpw#secondParagraph) Related

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/multimedia/icons/video_icon.gif Trailer: 'Jerichow' (http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/451855/Jerichow/trailers)
http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2009/05/10/arts/10lim2_190.jpg Cinema Guild
A scene from Mr. Petzold’s “Jerichow” featuring, from left, Hilmi Sözer, Benno Fürmann and Nina Hoss.



But alongside these big movies with important themes and a capital-H notion of history, a cluster of thoughtful, low-key independent films has emerged, most from a loose network of filmmakers known as the Berlin School. The work of Christian Petzold, 49, a senior member of this quasi-movement, has a particularly charged and complicated relationship with history.

Article continues here (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/10/movies/10lim.html?hpw)

[DSXMachina]

Sounds like "The Gastmann Always Rings Twice" re-done by Bergman and set in Germany. Hmm, does that make it more Italian and less Danish?
One thing is certain, only the Germans can come to grips with Germany. I think that had the Nazis never happened, that coming to an understanding of WW1 would have happened a lot sooner than understanding WW2 will take.

[b-y]

Did you see the press release on Warner producing DVDs on demand of some of the classics in their archive? The press release specifically mentions Drei Kameraden (Three Comrades) with F. Scott Fitzgerald as the screenwriter, but somehow neglects to mention it was based on an Erich Maria Remarque novel. Here is the info for ordering (http://www.wbshop.com/Three-Comrades-+EST-MOD/1000088166,default,pd.html?cgid=):

Three Comrades (DVD) Warner Archive Product
Director: Frank Borzage

Cast: Franchot Tone, Guy Kibbee, Margaret Sullavan, Robert Taylor, Robert Young

Genre: Drama
Run Time: 98 minutes Copyright: Three Comrades © 1938 Turner Entertainment Co. Package Design © 2009 Turner Entertainment Co. and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Rating: NR Important Note: This film has been manufactured from the best-quality video master currently available and has not been remastered or restored specifically for this DVD and On Demand release.

Preview clip: http://pdl.warnerbros.com/wbol/us/dd/mod/t/ADS_WB.com_THREE_COMRADES_4-3_NTSC_1696555.flv