Liebelei-1933

Among the works of Max Ophuls, this film based upon a short story by Arthur Schnitzler stands out as a mature work where his grasp of the story telling and a particular style that we associate with him converge. This is his first milestone and fifth feature film. Ophuls treats love straightforward and in Liebelei [...]

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The Marriage of Maria Braun-1978

I advise this film for whoever may have lofty ideals of redeeming nature of love. Love must run the gauntlet of fate. The fate of Thousand Reich ended in a division and every German’s desire for unification  must end in anti-climax and bitterness of economic disparity.  We have seen it happen.  Love of Maria Braun [...]

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Die Sehnsucht der Veronica Voss-1982

In a film where the eponymous heroine holds with her ‘feel good’ doctor the following  dialogue : Veronica Voss: You’ve given me a great deal of happiness. Dr. Marianne Katz: I sold it to you. one may be sure the film is going to be as dark as the soul of  the dopefiend or of [...]

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Metropolis-1927

Metropolis is a science fiction film based on a screenplay written in 1924 by Fritz Lang and his then wife, Thea von Harbou. She made it into a novel in 1926. This work by Fritz Lang was produced in Germany in the Babelsberg Studios at a time before the economic and political chaos could engulf [...]

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Aguirre,the wrath of God-1972

Aguirre, der Zorn Gottes to the Germans, is an independent 1972 German film written and directed by Werner Herzog. Klaus Kinski stars in the title role. The soundtrack was composed and performed by German progressive/Krautrock band Popol Vuh. The fame of Aguirre has continued to grow since its release. Its visual style and narrative elements [...]

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The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant-1972

The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant (German: Die Bitteren Tränen der Petra von Kant) is a 1972 German film directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder, based on his own play. It is the 13th of the 33 films he made in his short life. He explores the changing dynamics of love of a successful fashion [...]

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Pandora’s Box-1929

(German: Die Büchse der Pandora) The title is a reference to Pandora of Greek mythology, who upon opening a box given to her by the gods released all evils into the world, leaving only hope behind. The lead role is played by Lousie Brooks as Lulu. She is a young and impulsive vaudeville performer whose [...]

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The Joyless Street-1925

(in German Die Freudlose Gasse) Before I discuss the two films by GW Pabst let me put the film in proper context by briefly touching upon hyperinflation,  that existed in Weimar Republic. Germany had to inflate its currency to pay the war reparations required under the Treaty of Versailles, but this didn’t cause hyperinflation. The [...]

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The Blue Angel-1930

Based on a Heinrich Mann novel by name Professor Unrath (film changed the title to Der Blaue Engel)  The Blue Angel’s fame now rests as the springboard for Marlene Dietrich. Originally it was intended as a showcase for the talented Emil Jannings as his talkie debut. He had returned to Germany from Hollywood in 1929, [...]

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M-1931

: Fritz Lang’s Dark Masterpiece, Still Shocking After All These Years (also known as M – Mörder unter uns (Germany) Murderers Among Us(working title) M is for murder. It is as the mark of Cain, a commentary etched into the dehumanised soul of our society, M in the context of the movie holds a visual [...]

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