Critical History of German Film, Second Edition

STEPHEN BROCKMANN is Professor of German with courtesy appointments in English and History at Carnegie Mellon University.

• Introduction: Critical Film History and German StudiesPART ONE: EARLY GERMAN FILM HISTORY 1895-1918Early German Film History 1895-1918: Historical OverviewDer Student von Prag (1913) and Learning to LookPART TWO: WEIMAR CINEMA 1919-1933Weimar Cinema 1919-1933: Historical OverviewDas Cabinet des Dr. Caligari (1920) or Film as HypnosisDer letzte Mann (1924) or Learning to MoveDie Abenteuer des Prinzen Achmed (1926): The Birth of the Feature-Length Animation FilmMetropolis (1927) or Technology and SexDer blaue Engel (1930) and Learning to TalkM (1931) or Sound and TerrorPART THREE: NAZI CINEMA 1933-1945Nazi Cinema 1933-1945: Historical OverviewTriumph des Willens (1935): Documentary and PropagandaHallo Janine (1939): Dancing and Singing to HappinessDie große Liebe (1942) or Love and WarPART FOUR: GERMAN CINEMA AT THE ZERO HOUR 1945-1949German Cinema at the Zero Hour 1945-1949: Historical OverviewDie Mörder sind unter uns (1946): The Rubble FilmPART FIVE: POSTWAR EAST GERMAN CINEMA 1949-1989Postwar East German Cinema 1949-1989: Historical OverviewSonnensucher (1958) or Searching for the Socialist SunSpur der Steine (1966) or Traces of RepressionDie Legende von Paul und Paula (1973) or East Germany in the '70sSolo Sunny (1980) or Even Socialism Can't Stave Off LonelinessPART SIX: POSTWAR WEST GERMAN CINEMA 1949-1989Postwar West German Cinema 1949-1989: Historical OverviewGrün ist die Heide (1951) and the Reinvention of the German Homeland in Living ColorDie Brücke (1959): Film and WarDer junge Törless (1966) or Recapturing TraditionAguirre, der Zorn Gottes (1972): Film and the SublimeDeutschland im Herbst (1978) or Film and PoliticsDie Ehe der Maria Braun (1979) or West Germany RebuildsDie Blechtrommel (1979) or Coming to Terms with the Nazi PastDie bleierne Zeit (1981): Film and TerrorismMänner (1985) and the New German Film ComedyDer Himmel über Berlin (1987): Berlin, City of AngelsPART SEVEN: GERMAN FILM AFTER REUNIFICATION 1990-2019German Film after Reunification 1990-2019: Historical OverviewDer bewegte Mann (1994) or West German Self-AbsorptionRossini (1997) or West German Self-Absorption CriticizedLola rennt (1998) or Cool GermaniaGood Bye Lenin! (2003) or Farewell to the Socialist MotherlandGegen die Wand (2004) or Germany Goes MulticulturalDas Leben der anderen (2006) or the Power of ArtToni Erdmann (2016) and the Passing of a GenerationConclusion: The Future of German Cinema?Index

Brockmann's analysis of films that are both representative and accessible results in a text that offers the kind of broad understanding of German film history that is a prerequisite for further work in the field. As a result, [the book] can serve as an ideal text for teaching. Its strength lies precisely in its breadth: it is an engagingly and clearly written introduction to the distinct periods of German film history and the key moments and significance of some of the best-known films belonging to that history. . . . Th[e] second edition . . . only increases the usefulness of the text for those looking for an introduction to the field as well as those engaged in teaching the material.