Country: Germany - East Germany (GDR)

Direction Wolfgang Staudte

Cast Paul Esser · Irene Korb · Karl Heinz Deickert · Reinhold Bernt

Synopsis Rotation (1949) follows the journey of a mechanic named Behnke, who initially seeks to align himself with the Nazi party to ensure a comfortable life. However, his perspective shifts dramatically after witnessing the forced removal of his Jewish neighbors. Struggling...

Direction Joachim Kunert

Cast Albert Hetterle · Annekathrin Bürger · Horst Jonischkan · Walter Richter-Reinick

Synopsis The Second Track (1962) delves into the hidden past of East Germany in the 1960s, as concealed truths from the Nazi era resurface, casting long shadows over the present. The narrative unfolds as characters grapple with the repercussions of past...

Direction Konrad Wolf

Cast Jaecki Schwarz · Vasili Livanov · Aleksei Ejbozhenko · Galina Polskikh

Synopsis I Was Nineteen (1968) follows the journey of Gregor Hecker, a 19-year-old soldier in the Red Army's reconnaissance unit, as he approaches Berlin in April 1945. Having left Germany with his family at the age of eight, Gregor faces the...

Direction Konrad Wolf

Cast Sasha Krusharska · Jürgen Frohriep · Erik S. Klein · Stefan Pejchev

Synopsis Stars (1959) explores the heart-wrenching tale of a Jewish woman and a Nazi officer, whose forbidden love serves as a poignant emblem of innocence and purity crushed under the weight of fascism and racial intolerance.

Direction Frank Beyer

Cast Vlastimil Brodsky · Erwin Geschonneck · Henry Hübchen · Blanche Kommerell

Synopsis Jacob the Liar (1975) is set in a Jewish ghetto in Eastern Europe during 1944. Jakob Heym accidentally overhears a German radio broadcast revealing that the Soviet Army is gradually advancing towards central Europe. To prevent his friend Mischa from...

Direction Frank Beyer

Cast Erwin Geschonneck · Armin Mueller-Stahl · Krystyn Wójcik · Fred Delmare

Synopsis Naked Among the Wolves (1963) unfolds in the harrowing days leading up to the liberation of the Buchenwald concentration camp. This gripping film is inspired by the true events of male prisoners who bravely put their lives on the line...

Direction Frank Beyer

Cast Manfred Krug · Krystyna Stypulkowska · Jutta Hoffmann · Eberhard Esche

Synopsis The Trace of Stones (1966) delves into the everyday lives and labor conditions of individuals residing in the German Democratic Republic during the 1960s. The narrative offers a candid portrayal of the societal landscape, intertwined with a heartwarming romantic subplot...

Direction Wolfgang Staudte

Cast Ernst Wilhelm Borchert · Hildegard Knef · Arno Paulsen · Elly Burgmer

Synopsis Murderers Among Us (1946) follows the story of Susanne Wallner, who, after the end of World War II, returns to her Berlin apartment from a concentration camp, only to find it occupied by Dr. Mertens. Dr. Mertens, a man haunted...

Direction Konrad Wolf · Wolfgang Kohlhaase

Cast Renate Krößner · Alexander Lang · Dieter Montag · Klaus Brasch

Synopsis Solo Sunny (1980) follows the journey of Sunny, a talented vocalist striving to make a name for herself in the vibrant yet challenging music scene of East Berlin. Performing regularly in small venues, Sunny grapples with a sense of disconnect...

Direction Frank Beyer

Cast Ernst Busch · Erwin Geschonneck · Manfred Krug · Edwin Marian

Synopsis Five Cartridges (1960) is set against the backdrop of the Spanish Civil War in 1936. A group of five brigadiers is tasked with remaining in the Spanish Sierras to hold off the advancing fascist forces while the rest of their...

Direction Paul Verhoeven II

Cast Lutz Moik · Hanna Rucker · Paul Bildt · Paul Esser

Synopsis Heart of Stone (1950) follows the tale of Peter Munk, a humble charcoal burner who, after losing his fortune, deserts his bride and invokes a malevolent spirit. The spirit offers Peter unimaginable wealth in exchange for his heart, which will...

Direction Rainer Simon

Cast Kathrin Waligura · Peter Zimmermann · Siegfried Höchst · Joachim Lätsch

Synopsis The Woman and the Stranger (1985) follows the journey of two German soldiers who, after being captured by the Russians during World War I, form a deep bond. Richard frequently shares personal anecdotes about his beloved wife, Anna, which captivates...

Direction Heiner Carow

Cast Matthias Freihof · Dagmar Manzel · Dirk Kummer · Michael Gwisdek

Direction Kurt Maetzig

Cast Angelika Waller · Alfred Müller · Ilse Voigt · Wolfgang Winkler

Synopsis The Rabbit Is Me (I Am the Rabbit) (1965) is a thought-provoking film crafted in 1965 to spark conversations about the democratization of East German society. The narrative revolves around a young student who engages in a romantic relationship with...

Direction Heiner Carow

Cast Angelica Domröse · Winfried Glatzeder · Heidemarie Wenzel · Fred Delmare

Synopsis The Legend of Paul and Paula (1973) follows the story of two individuals, Paul and Paula, who have both faced heartache in their romantic lives. Paul, despite his financial stability, has grown distant from his wife, while Paula struggles to...

Direction Lutz Dammbeck

Direction Kurt Weiler

Direction Herrmann Zschoche

Cast Cox Habbema · Ivan Andonov · Rolf Hoppe · Vsevolod Sanayev

Synopsis Eolomea (1972) follows a series of mysterious events where eight space cargo vessels vanish without a trace over three days, and the orbit station "Margot" abruptly goes silent. The space council is confronted with an enigma, and the lead scientist,...

Direction Lutz Dammbeck

Direction Kurt Maetzig

Cast Yoko Tani · Oldrick Lukes · Ignacy Machowski · Julius Ongewe

Synopsis First Spaceship on Venus (1960) follows a narrative where humanity enjoys a period of tranquility, but scientists detect an ominous message originating from Venus. In response, an international spaceship is dispatched to investigate the enigmatic signal. The crew, which includes...