East Germany, 1990, 98 minutes,
b & w, 35mm
German with English subtitles
Director: Jerzy Kawalerowicz

This film represents a unique synthesis of cultures after German unification: It blends the talents of leading actors from the former GDR, under the direction of an eminent Polish director, and is based on a novel by one of Germany's most acclaimed writers Jurek Becker. The plot focuses on the family of one survivor, brilliantly played by Armin Mueller-Stahl. When his son discovers that his father and two of his friends have kidnapped a former Nazi (Rolf Hoppe), this tale of intergenerational conflict and questions of personal justice takes a dramatic turn.

Discussant: Barton Byg, University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Sponsor: The Goethe Institut, Boston and DEFA Film Library at UMass, Amherst