Postwall German Cinema: History, Film History and Cinephilia (Film Europa Book 14)

Since the fall of the Berlin Wall, there has been a proliferation of German historical films. These productions have earned prestigious awards and succeeded at box offices both at home and abroad, where they count among the most popular German films of all time. Recently, however, the country’s cinematic take on history has seen a significant new development: the radical style, content, and politics of the New German Cinema. With in-depth analyses of the major trends and films, this book represents a comprehensive assessment of the historical film in today’s Germany. Challenging previous paradigms, it takes account of a postwall cinema that complexly engages with various historiographical forms and, above all, with film history itself. CONTENTS List of Illustrations Acknowledgements Introduction Chapter 1 Rebirth of a Nation: Das Wunder von Bern, the 1950s, and the Reactions to the New German Cinema Chapter 2 Pop Retro-vision: Baader, Der Baader Meinhof Komplex, and the RAF Film Chapter 3 The Ambivalent View: 23, Historical Paranoia, and the 1980s Chapter 4 “Ostalgie,” Historical Ownership, and Material Authenticity: Good Bye, Lenin! and Das Leben der Anderen Chapter 5 Unification, Spatial Anxiety, and the Recuperation of Material Culture: Die Unberührbare Chapter 6 The Future of the German Past Select Bibliography Index Since the fall of the Berlin Wall, there has been a proliferation of German historical films. These productions have earned prestigious awards and scored at box offices both at home and abroad, where they count among the most popular German films of all time. Suddenly, however, a significant departure has been made from the country's prominent cinematic take on history: the radical style, content, and politics of the New German Cinema. With in-depth analyses of the major trends and films, this book represents a comprehensive assessment of the historical film in postwall Germany Introduction -- Rebirth Of A Nation: Das Wunder Von Bern, The 1950s, And The Reactions To The New German Cinema -- Pop Retro-vision: Baader, Der Baader Meinhof Komplex, And The Raf Film -- The Ambivalent View: 23, Historical Paranoia, And The 1980s -- Ostalgie, Historical Ownership, And Material Authenticity: Good Bye, Lenin! And Das Leben Der Anderen -- Unification, Spatial Anxiety, And The Recuperation Of Material Culture: Die Unberhrbare -- The Future Of The German Past. Mattias Frey. Includes Filmography. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. With in-depth analyses of the major trends and films, this book represents a comprehensive assessment of the historical film in postwall Germany. Challenging previous paradigms, it takes account of a postwall cinema of retro-flection as a complex engagement with various historiographical forms and, above all, with film history itself.