The Benthin Family

The Incorrigible Barbara

March 1977 •German

The former athlete Barbara follows her husband to the province and attempts to masters her new life, even after her separation from him.

Just Don't Think I'll Cry

October 1965 •German

High-school senior Peter considers the adults around him to be hypocritical, self-congratulatory, and immersed in the past. He gets suspended for writing an essay that his teachers consider to be a challenge to the state. Just Don't Think I'll Cry became one of twelve films and film projects-almost an entire year's production-that were banned in 1965-1966 due to their alleged anti-socialist aspects. Although scenes and dialogs were altered and the end was reshot twice, officials condemned this title as "particularly harmful." In 1989, cinematographer Ost restored the original version, and this and most of the other banned films were finally screened in January 1990. Belatedly, they were acclaimed as masterpieces of critical realism.

Außenseiter

January 1985 •German

Ware für Katalonien

March 1959 •German

At the end of the 1950s, the production of optics in the German Democratic Republic has reached top quality and instigates interest in the West. When national demand rises strongly and at the same time the export to South America heavily decreases, the Volkspolizei - the GDR police force - starts to look into the case. Two seemingly unrelated cases are the starting point for the investigation by second lieutenant Schellenberg of the department for optics racketeering: An old woman who was arrested in the Berlin city railway for trying to smuggle a pair of binoculars to West Berlin, and a dead person in an area of allotments who was involved in obscure dealings with optical devices.

Hart am Wind

June 1970 •German

The electrician Peter Drews is a brigadier at a Baltic Sea dockyard. His men are among the most reliable and diligent workers at the dockyard. Their motivation, however, increasingly suffers from Peter’s narcissism and imperiousness. Even his girlfriend Brigitte who is also a member of the brigade finds it increasingly difficult to accept his behavior. One day, Peter decides that the entire group must enter the navy - just because he has received his conscription call. While four men follow Peter into the navy, Brigitte, who has broken up with Peter, takes over the control of the brigade. During the work at the ship on which Peter is based at she meets the charming lieutenant Asmus.

… verdammt, ich bin erwachsen

September 1974 •German

15-year old Klaus Kambor, called Kurbel, is living in a village in Lusatia and already thinks of himself as an adult. He can hold a lot of rhubarb wine and has already kissed a girl. But with his new method of lawn mowing, which he thinks is brilliant, Klaus makes a big mistake: He causes a wild fire in the forest. Then he does not react adult-like at all, but shirks the responsibility, which leads to the break-up with his girlfriend Daniela. Furthermore, Klaus does not realize that several of the places he likes the most in his environment are now going to be sacrificed to mining. When Klaus becomes friends with the teacher Konzak and with the construction worker Jule, he feels understood for the first time and starts to take more responsibility.

Pugowitza

March 1981 •German

World War II is over and Heinrich, a young German boy, influenced by the Russians, starts to act according to Communist principles in a small German village.

Schwester Agnes

March 1975 •German

Sister Agnes helps in all situations and does not only make friends. She has just fallen out with the new mayor. The consequences leave an entire community upside down.

Paths in the Night

November 1999 •German

Set against the backdrop of post-unification Germany, the film explores the breakdown of relations in a decaying social structure.

The Wall - The Final Days

October 2008 •German

Das Ministerium für Staatssicherheit - Alltag einer Behörde

October 2002 •German

Nebelnacht

June 1969 •German

When a motorcyclist dies in an accident, lieutenant Kreutzer and his colleague Arnold receive the order to investigate the backgrounds of this mysterious case. Although the leads point to murder, head physician Dr. Nikolai, the driver of the car involved in the accident, maintains his innocence and even has an alibi. With a lot of arduous detail work, Kreutzer follows all leads and evidence. Both Nikolai’s colleagues and his son act suspiciously. Eventually, Kreutzer convicts the criminal who secretly used the physician’s car for his criminal dealings.

Seine Hoheit – Genosse Prinz

August 1969 •German

Kasper Mai, an export merchant and comrade with a “clean” record, discovers he is the prince of Hohenlohe-Liebenstein. His royal grandmother designates him as the heir to her estate. A private trip to her reveals that she does not want a NATO airbase built on her land. The GDR and his grandmother thus find a common interest, and a clever lawyer from the East works against other family members looking to settle their debts with the estate money.

The Boy with the Big Black Dog

June 1986 •German

A little boy tries to keep a huge Newfoundland dog in his family's apartment.

Generation '89 - Growing up in the year of change

February 2015 •English

The documentary tells the story of the reunification from the perspective of six teenagers from East Germany.

Kalter Krieg der Konzerte - Wie Bruce Springsteen den Osten rockte

November 2013 •German

Geheimsache Mauer - Die Geschichte einer deutschen Grenze

July 2011 •German

Freundschaft! - Die freie deutsche Jugend

June 2008 •German

Das Ende des Politburos

August 2009 •German

Ein Jahr voll Musik

December 1970 •German