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Wunderbar. A celebration of German film© Kanopy

Celebrating German Film

​From “Beloved Sisters” to “A Coffee in Berlin” and “Young Goethe in Love,” from “The Blue Angel” to “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari”–We celebrated German-American friendship for one year with our partner Kanopy by bringing 48 German films to your screens. Under “Critically Viewed,” German and American film journalists introduce you to their favorite films. Goethe-Instituts and Goethe Pop Ups in the US also took part in the celebration by showing films, organizing film festivals, and inviting German filmmakers to speak.

Critically viewed

Teenagers in the GDR in the 1970s - scene from the film “Sonnenallee” Photo (Detail): © picture alliance/United Archives

“Seven Freckles” & “Sun Alley”
 The Kids Are Alright

Did those who grew up in the German Democratic Republic feel the oppressive weight of the Wall? Did it make the journey to adulthood harder? Michael Tager analyses two films about young people in the GDR.

“Lichtgrenze” (light boundary) – an installation by film director Marc Bauder and his brother Christopher for the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall in 2014. Photo (Detail): R4200 © picture alliance

Post-Reunification
 People and walls

Two documentary films made in the years after German reunification take a highly personal and nuanced look at the difficulties involved in coming to terms with the past.

Billy Wilder (right) and his leading actor Horst Buchholz from “One, Two, Three” 1993 in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin Photo (Detail): Wolfgang Kumm © picture-alliance / dpa

Cold War films
 The Wall as an international threat

The construction of the Berlin Wall had a direct impact on cinema. And on how a secretary in Leeds or a factory worker in Michigan perceived the division of Germany. Let’s take a trip to the 1960s to learn more. 

More critiques

Washington - German Film Series
 Wunderbar Films: German Cinema 101

You're invited to Goethe-Washington's year-long series of once-monthly film screenings that explore four distinct eras of German film history. 

Washington - German Film Festival
 Film|Neu 2019

Welcome to the 27th edition of Film|Neu, Washington’s annual festival of contemporary cinema from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. This year’s films explore the absurd, the challenges that come with pursuing ambitious dreams, remaining true to oneself in the face of great change, and being an outsider torn between belonging and remaining a misfit.

Boston - German Film Series
 New Films from Germany 2019

The latest German arthouse films presented in one of Boston’s most beautiful independent theatres. Once a month it’s German film time at Coolidge, always with English subtitles.

Are you a cultural or educational institute looking to host German film screenings? The Goethe-Institut Boston Film Archive has over 1000 contemporary and classic German films on DVD and Blue-ray available to rent for non-commercial screenings. Follow the link for more information, and peruse the drop down list to see the films available in both our online collection and in the Film Archive.

Goethe-Institut Boston Film Archive

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Literature

Girls Rock Feminism Photo: irina_levitskaya © fotolia.com

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Kelly Speaking ©Hoxxoh / Photo: Mike Maguire

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Goal: switching off Photo (detail): © Jacek Chabraszewski

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Televisions took over living rooms everywhere. Photo (detail): © migfoto - Fotolia.com

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