Category: Germany
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ALICE IN THE CITIES
‘Alice in the Cities’ is a poignant 1974 road movie directed by Wim Wenders. It follows a disillusioned German journalist and a young girl as they embark on an unexpected journey across Europe to search for her grandmother. The film is an early entry in Wenders’ exploration of identity, alienation, and the nomadic experience. Philip…
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LEGENDARY CAMERAS: THE ARRIFLEX 35IIC aka ARRI 2C
Being a bit of a camera buff, I thought I’d occasionally profile some of the cameras that have had a significant influence on the film industry. There is no arguing that the Arriflex 35IIC is one of them. I will eventually profile cameras before and after the 2C, which will provide context for why it…
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WARNUNG VOR EINER HEILIGEN HURE aka BEWARE OF A HOLY WHORE
“Beware of a Holy Whore” (Warnung vor einer heiligen Hure) is a 1971 film directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder, renowned for its exploration of complex psychological and social dynamics, as well as its subversion of traditional cinematic forms. This avant-garde film, while brimming with Fassbinder’s trademark themes of existential struggle, interpersonal alienation, and self-destruction, offers…
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DIE BLECHTROMMEL aka THE TIN DRUM
‘The Tin Drum’ is a 1979 war drama directed by Volker Schlöndorff and is an adaptation of Günter Grass’s acclaimed 1959 novel. This German film, which won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival and the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, is a surreal, darkly satirical exploration of Germany’s descent into Nazism,…
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TRIANGLE OF SADNESS
“Triangle of Sadness” is a satirical dark comedy film directed by Swedish filmmaker Ruben Östlund, released in 2022. The film features a talented cast including Harris Dickinson, Charlbi Dean (who very sadly passed away before the film was publically released), Woody Harrelson, Dolly De Leon, Zlatko Burić, Vicki Berlin, and Henrik Dorsin.The film is divided…
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THE ZONE OF INTEREST
“The Zone of Interest” (2023) is a chilling drama written and directed by Jonathan Glazer and adapted from the novel by Martin Amis. The film stars Christian Friedel, Sandra Hüller, and Daniel Bruhl, who deliver powerful performances that bring a harrowing story to life. Set during World War II, “The Zone of Interest” explores the…
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DOGVILLE
“Dogville” is a 2003 avant-garde drama film directed by Lars von Trier. The film is notable for its minimalist set design, which uses a nearly bare soundstage with chalk outlines to represent the small town of Dogville, Colorado. This unconventional approach emphasizes the story’s themes and character dynamics. The film follows Grace Margaret Mulligan (Nicole Kidman),…
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METROPOLIS
“Metropolis” is a 1927 German expressionist science-fiction film directed by Fritz Lang. It is set in a futuristic dystopian city where society is sharply divided between the wealthy elite who live in luxury above ground and the oppressed working class who toil away in the underground factories that power the city. The film stars Gustav…
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DIE WEIBCHEN aka THE FEMALES
‘Die Weibchen,’ aka “The Females,” is a 1970 horror drama film directed by Zbynek Brynch. The film centers around an attractive 24-year-old Eve (played by Uschi Glas) who is mentally exhausted and close to a nervous breakdown. She travels to an exclusive health spa for women for a six-week treatment on her doctor’s advice. Upon…
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ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT (22)
“All Quiet on the Western Front” is a 2022 poignant anti-war story Directed by Edward Berger that follows the experiences of Paul Bäumer (played by Felix Kammerer), a young German soldier, as he navigates the horrors of World War I. The film is based on Erich Maria Remarque’s classic novel of the same name. The…
The Other Cinema 