Life Behind The Berlin Wall: Watch East German Film Classics on the Big Screen

Description

This programme will screen six classics produced by the Deutsche Film-Aktiengesellschaft (DEFA), a state-founded film studio which existed from 1946 to 1992. The German Democratic Republic (GDR)’s studio produced films to educate former Nazis to become good socialists after the defeat of Germany in the Second World War. However, while DEFA officially produced heroic propaganda films, the studio also worked with directors whose distinct and engaging works were more critical of the GDR’s government and society.

All films will be introduced and followed by a post-screening talk by German film expert Christina Schmidt. She will shed light on the complex political and cultural backgrounds of East German filmmaking and how those filmmakers created new visions and realms of possibilities.