German Culture through Film (Second Edition)

German Culture through Film: An Introduction to German Cinema is an English-language text that serves equally well in courses on modern German film, in courses on general film studies, in courses that incorporate film as a way to study culture, and as an engaging resource for scholars, students, and devotees of cinema and film history. In its second edition, German Culture through Film expands on the first edition, providing additional chapters with context for understanding the era in which the featured films were produced. Thirty-three notable German films are arranged in seven chronological chapters, spanning key moments in German film history, from the silent era to the present.

For additional film resources visit Reinhard Zachau's German film website.

Download a PDF of the Table of Contents, with the full list of films covered in the book.

SKU
28017g

An Introduction to German Cinema

Robert C. Reimer, Reinhard Zachau, with contributions from Margit M. Sinka

September 2017
Imprint: Focus - 384 pp.

Grouped product items
Format ISBN Price Qty
Paper 978-1-58510-856-5
$39.95
Instructor Examination (Review) Copy 978-1-58510-856-5
$5.00

eBook available for $29.95. Click HERE for more information about Hackett eBooks.

German Culture through Film: An Introduction to German Cinema is an English-language text that serves equally well in courses on modern German film, in courses on general film studies, in courses that incorporate film as a way to study culture, and as an engaging resource for scholars, students, and devotees of cinema and film history.

In its second edition, German Culture through Film expands on the first edition, providing additional chapters with context for understanding the era in which the featured films were produced. Thirty-three notable German films are arranged in seven chronological chapters, spanning key moments in German film history, from the silent era to the present. Each chapter begins with an introduction that focuses on the history and culture surrounding films of the relevant period. Sections within chapters are each devoted to one particular film, providing film credits, a summary of the story, background information, an evaluation, questions and activities to encourage diverse interpretations, a list of related films, and bibliographical information on the films discussed.

 

 

Additional Resources:

Reinhard Zachau's German film website: Featuring companion resources and information on the films covered in the textbook.

 

 

Film and Chapter Contents:

The films are not included with the purchase of the book but are readily available for purchase or rental via Amazon, iTunes, school libraries and other sources.


Chapter I. Weimar Film 1919–1933

Introduction

  • Das Cabinet des Dr. Caligari (Robert Wiene, 1920)
  • Nosferatu (F. W. Murnau, 1922)
  • Metropolis (Fritz Lang, 1927)
  • Berlin: die Sinfonie der Großstadt (Walter Ruttmann, 1927)


Chapter II. Weimar Sound Film 1929–1933

Introduction

  • Der blaue Engel (Josef von Sternberg, 1930)
  • M (Fritz Lang, 1931)


Chapter III. Nazi Film 1933–1945

Introduction

  • Triumph des Willens (Leni Riefenstahl, 1935)
  • Olympia (Leni Riefenstahl, 1938)
  • Münchhausen (Josef von Báky, 1943)


Chapter IV. Postwar Film 1945–1949

Introduction

  • Die Mörder sind unter uns (Wolfgang Staudte, 1946)


Chapter V. East German Film 1949–1989

Introduction

  • Berlin: Ecke Schönhauser (Gerhard Klein, 1957)
  • Die Legende von Paul und Paula (Heiner Carow, 1973)


Chapter VI. West German Film 1950–1989

Introduction

  • Die Brücke (Bernhard Wicki, 1959)
  • Aguirre: Der Zorn Gottes (Werner Herzog, 1972)
  • Angst essen Seele auf (Rainer Werner Fassbinder, 1974)
  • Die Ehe der Maria Braun (Rainer Werner Fassbinder, 1979)
  • Deutschland bleiche Mutter (Helma Sanders-Brahms, 1980)
  • Die Blechtrommel (Volker Schlöndorff, 1979)
  • Die bleierne Zeit (Margarethe von Trotta, 1981)
  • Das Boot (Wolfgang Petersen, 1981)
  • Der Himmel über Berlin (Wim Wenders, 1987)


Chapter VII. German Film after 1989

Introduction

  • Stilles Land (Andreas Dresen, 1992)
  • Lola rennt (Tom Tykwer, 1998)
  • Nirgendwo in Afrika (Caroline Link, 2001)
  • Good Bye Lenin! (Wolfgang Becker, 2003)
  • Der Untergang (Oliver Hirschbiegel, 2004)
  • Sophie Scholl: Die letzten Tage (Marc Rothemund, 2005)
  • Das Leben der Anderen (Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, 2006)
  • Auf der anderen Seite (Fatih Akin, 2007)
  • Die Fälscher (Stefan Ruzowitzky, 2007)
  • Der Baader Meinhof Komplex (Bernd Eichinger, 2008)
  • Barbara (Christian Petzold, 2012)
  • Oh Boy (Jan Ole Gerster, 2012)

Download a PDF of the Table of Contents, with the full list of films covered in the book.