And so, we've reached another Thursday. If you've been around then you know that means it's time for another edition of Thursday Movie Picks. This is the wonderful weekly meme I take part in. It is hosted by Wanderer at Wandering Through the Shelves. The rules are simple. She picks a topic and a bunch of us bloggers "suggest" three movies that fit. Generally, I pride myself on "going deep." I'm suggesting the movies most people never thought of, or maybe never even heard of. Well boys and girls, that won't be the case this week. Ya see, Wanderer backed me into a corner this week. The topic is not just Foreign Language Films, but specifically films in German. Yup, she's found a weak spot. Ol' Dell just isn't that well-versed in German cinema. I do have enough to participate and they are all fabulous movies, so I don't feel too bad. Here it goes.
M
(1931)
There is a child murderer on the loose and no one in town knows who it is. The police are working around the clock, but not having any luck. Things get so bad even the other criminals join in on the search. Believe me, whatever answers there are in this film aren't arrived by easily. This much I do know about German cinema. You can't talk about it without talking about director Fritz Lang. And this is his masterpiece. (my full review)
Run Lola Run
(1998)
Lola is just trying to help her idiot of a boyfriend stay alive. He's lost some money belonging to some very dangerous people. They say they will kill him if he can't replace it in 20 minutes. These dudes ain't screwing around. Anyhoo, he calls Lola and she springs into action. At just 81 minutes long, this is a compact joy-ride through the streets of Berlin. It actually plays out three different times with different things happening each time. Our star, Franka Potente, went on to pair with Matt Damon in both The Bourne Identity and The Bourne Supremacy, but, of what I've seen, this is her best work.
The Lives of Others
(2006)
Set in 1984 in East Germany, Captain Weisler is a good socialist working for the government spying on those who are suspected of not being good socialists. This particular case he's taking on is different, though. It definitely affects him more than any other. It's an outstanding film with a great performance by the late Ulrich Muhe. (my full review)
Bonus Picks:
The White Ribbon
(2009)
Like in M, there is a criminal on the loose. In this case, it's in a small town during WWI. Again, everyone is trying to figure out who is responsible. The bigger questions center on religion and just punishment. It's a movie that really asks us tough questions and leaves us to wrestle with them. (my full review)
Metropolis
(1927)
Had to include this since it's arguably the most influential science-fiction picture of all time. Some would even argue that this is director Fritz Lang's true masterpiece. It puts classism into the limelight without flinching. It's set in a dystopian society where the rich literally live off the labor of the poor who are all forced to live and remain underground. The concepts used here have aged remarkably well as many of them are still recycled in sci-fi to this day. Even more surprising, the special fx look better than many movies half it's 80+ years. The trick is that it's a silent flick, so be aware for all of you that can't watch that sort of thing. However, if you're a sci-fi buff, this is a must-watch.
That is a great list as those are pretty much essential films but I should note that The White Ribbon is technically an Austrian film made by an Austrian but I would count it as a German film not just for its language but also for its subject matter. As for the rest of German cinema, you covered a few notable names but the ones to check out are Werner Herzog and Rainer Werner Fassbinder.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the heads up. And thanks for the reminder on Herzog. Can't believe I forgot Das Boot! Love that movie!
DeleteSeen M and The Lives of Others the latter is a personal favourite of mine but I had already select it before so I didn't choose it again. M is a brilliant film, certainly not a film you could make in Hollywood at the time, They wouldn't dare. Haven't seen Metropolis...probably should be punishment for that or something, haha.
ReplyDeleteM is certainly not a Hollywood film. I'll forgive you for not seeing Metropolis since its a silent film. That discourages a lot of people.
DeleteGreat list! I haven't seen any of your picks but I have The Lives of Others on my watch list. Hopefully I get around to it soon.
ReplyDeleteHope you do. It's a wonderful film.
DeleteI love The Lives of Others but I hated Lola Rennt. I think by the 3rd time she "woke up" again I was about to lose my mind. M is for sure going on my Blindspot list next year. Great picks!
ReplyDeleteI can see how Lola might have that effect on people. I love it, though. I highly recommend M.
DeleteBrittani, you are not alone! I wanted to like Run Lola Run...but no...a little too trippy for me.
DeleteI love it, but yeah, it's a little different beast. That's one of the reasons I do, actually.
DeleteI can't believe it but I've actually seen two of your picks and part of another! I thought for sure I'd be going through these today and be lucky if I'd seen one, my viewing of German films is very small. Run, Lola, Run is one of my picks too, an enjoyable fun ride with a terrific Franka Potente performance. I've also seen Metropolis which I had forgotten was a German film, a very cool film-Lang is one of my favorite directors. It also reminded me that Pandora's Box was German made as well, I'm not a huge silent film watcher but while I notice the different filming techniques because of the title cards in English I always think of them as more international then sound films. I've seen bits and pieces of M but even with Lang as director it seems so disturbing, someday though I will catch up with it. I've heard of The White Ribbon but know next to nothing about it. The Lives of Others is everywhere today, I'll definitely be watching that one.
ReplyDeleteSince my knowledge is so slim I really struggled to come up with three but I'll offer my other two since I caught them by chance and they aren't well known.
The Harmonists (1997)-From 1927 to 1934 the Comedian Harmonists were a wildly popular singing sextet who toured extensively throughout Germany. The film's focus is really the trajectory of their career but once the Nazi incursion gains momentum the group's Jewish members aren't allowed to perform in public any longer causing a crisis within the group.
Taxi zum Klo (1980)-Frank, a closeted high school teacher compulsively cruises for sex in public bathrooms eventually meeting a man he enters into a relationship with, not that it stops his behavior in the slightest. While his lover wants a more permanent arrangement Frank can't stop his wandering ways. How long can it last and how long before his secret becomes known at work? A real snapshot of a bygone era, the hedonistic, freewheeling time just before AIDS firmly clamped the lid on this kind of unfettered behavior shown here, the sex is very explicit and real. Written and directed by the film's star Frank Ripploh this was a succès d'estime winning several critic and festival awards and becoming a cult success during its original release.
Oh please watch the rest of M and all of The Lives of Others. They're both awesome. I haven't heard of either of the other films you've listed, but they sound interesting. That last one sounds very progressive for 1980. Might have to see if I can find those.
DeleteGREAT choices. I also haven't seen a lot of German cinema, although I have a lot of it on deck (Fassbinder, in particular). I still haven't seen The Lives of Others, so I must remedy that. Metropolis is still brilliant, undeniably one of the best films ever made. Run Lola Run is just genius. One of my All-Time Favorites. Franka Potente is so awesome in it.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear from a fan of Lola. It's a fantastic film. And yes on Metropolis. Thanks!
DeleteOh Metropolis, you're trying to kill me, aren't you? I had a bad week, health wise, and just couldnt' give subtitled movies a fair shake. Sean and I did watch Metropolis together and he dutifully read all the title cards out loud to me when he knew I wasn't paying attention, and then started describing the action on screen as well. I think I like Sean's version better than Lang's.
ReplyDeleteThe White Ribbon is quite beautiful in its way, and since the task seemed to be German language rather than origin, I think it totally counts!
I didn't get to watch M though it was on my list - had a hard time finding that one.
Lots of people have a hard time with silent films so I understand. Love The White Ribbon and yeah, it counts. Not sure if you have the same option, but my local library had a copy of M on DVD.
DeleteLove the Lives of Others and M. Both are great works and I love Metropolis. I find the imagery amazing and, when one thinks about the politics of the time, truly absorbing
ReplyDeleteThe best thing about the imagery of Metropolis is that it stands up to that of movies released even into the 1960s. And yes, it's still absorbing.
DeleteSigh, your list contains great films, yet I only watch one of them. And i'm agree that you can't talk about German cinema without Fritz Lang. He's just the man.
ReplyDeleteFritz is indeed the man. Which one did you watch?
DeleteSee. This is what I was talking about in my post. I need to see so many German films, especially the older ones.
ReplyDeleteYou and me, both, to be honest.
DeleteI still haven't seen Metropolis...but the other four here are BRILLIANT!!!
ReplyDeleteMetropolis is also, just in a silent way.
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