GERMANY 09: 13 SHORT FILMS ABOUT THE STATE OF THE NATION

By: D.E.Levine

Producers: Dirk Wilutzky, Verena Rahmig and Eric Friedler
Country of Origin: Germany
Language: German with English subtitles
A selection of Kino! at Thirty: New Cinema from Germany at the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) in New York City
First showing outside of Germany: April 22, 2009 Check www.moma.org for schedule
Running Time: 151 Minutes

This film is a rare treat as it looks at the existing, creative and artistic side of Germany from 13 different perspectives. Although the directors readily admit that the film was inspired by the 1978 picture "Germany in Autumn", they also acknowledge that it differs because it does not have one central political theme.

Instead, 13 different directors have produced 13 totally separate short films running the gamut from amusing to artistic that give us insight not only into German life but also into the current state of filmmaking in Germany today.

Obviously, because of the diversity, different films will appeal to different viewers and viewers may not be equally enthusiastic about each film. Still, the microcosm of Germany and German thought and culture that are expected is fascinating and appealing. Films vary as far as formats and screen rations.

FIRST DAY (ERSTER TAG)
Directed and written by Angela Schanelee
Cast: Nina Monka

JOSHUA
Directed and written by Dani Levy
Cast: Dani Levy, Joshua Levy, Hans Hollmann

BEING MURAT KURNAZ (Der Name Murat Kurnaz)
Directed and written by Faith Aiken
Cast: Denis Moschitto, Kai Strittmatter

THE UNFINISHED (Die Unvollendete)
Directed and written by Nicolette Krebitz
Cast: Helene Hegemann, Sandra Hueller, Jasmin Tabatabai

BIAS (Schieflage)
Directed and written by Sylke Enders
Cast: Dennis Grawe, Karl Markovics, Anneke Kim Sarnau, Winnie Boewe, Bernd Birkhan

THE ROAD WE DON'T WALK TOGETHER ( Der Weg, Den Wir Nicht Zusammen Gehen)
Directed and written by Dominik Graf
Voices: Dominik Graf, Jeanette Hain, Florian Krueger-Shantin, Klaus Sakelarides, Reynold Reynolds

FRAKTUR
Directed and written by Hans Steinbichler
Cast: Josef Bierbichler, Tim Seyfi, Adriana Altaras

A DEMOCRATIC DISCUSSION AT DESIGNATED TIMES (Eine Demikratische Gespraechsrunde Zu Festgelegten Zeiten)
Directed and written by Isabelle Stever
Cast: Johanna Nagel

PREVENTIVE ACTION (Gefaehrder)
Directed and written by Hans Weingartner
Cast: Christoph Jacobi, Claudia Geisler, Justus Carriere, Uwe Bohm, Helene Grass

FEIERLICH TRAVELS (Feierlichreist)
Directed and written by Tom Tykwer
Cast: Benno Fuermann, Eva Habermann

RAMSES
Directed and written by Romuald Karmakar
Cast: Malmoud Rahimzadiany

SICK HOUSE (Krankes Haus)
Director: Wolfgang Becker
Screenplay: Wolfgang Becker and Jan-Ole Gerster
Cast: Peter Jordan, Andrea Hofer, Andreja Schneider, Alexander Khuon, Arnd Klawitter, Edeltraud Schubert, Susanne Wuest

SEANCE
Directed and written by Christoph Hochhaeusler
Voice: Hans-Michael Rehberg