Deutschländersiedlung (Germany in Turkey: Gated Communities)
Several years ago, the filmmaker, Aysun Bademsoy, came across the “Deutschländersiedlungen” (“German settlements”) in Turkey, which have arisen in the last 10-20 years along the connecting roads between the major coastal cities. “Deutschländer” (roughly translated “people from Germany”) is the name given in Turkey to Turks who have lived and worked many years abroad, mostly […]
Schläfer
With actors Bastian Trost, Mehdi Nebbou Available on DVD in Germany Johannes, a new assistant at the university, is asked to provide reports on an Algerian colleague – who is suspected of being a sleeper. He refuses, but the seed of doubt has been planted. A fragile friendship which is overshadowed by professional and emotional […]
100 pour cent Arabica (100% Arabica)
Produced by Mahmoud Zemmouri With actors Khaled, Cheb Mami, Mouss, Najim Laouariga, Fard Fedjer, Youssef Diawara, Patrice Thibaud, Mohamed Camara available on DVD in the US and France Set in a rent-controlled Paris suburb populated entirely by North Africans, this comedy of music and cross-culturalism centers on a battle waged between the neighborhood youth, who […]
Ein Mädchen im Ring (Girl in the Boxing Ring)
English availability Kurzdokumentarfilm über eine türkische Kölner Schülerin, die neben ihren Abitur-Vorbereitungen als Boxerin in einem Sportstudio trainiert – als einzige Frau zwischen zahllosen Männern. Die hübsche junge Frau, die nach ihrem angestrebten Studien-Abschluss in der Türkei arbeiten möchte, demonstriert, dass es möglich ist, ein selbstbestimmtes Leben jenseits aller „Kopftuch-Klischees“ zu führen, ohne deshalb auf […]
Lebenszeichen (Signs of Life)
On Crete, a wounded German paratrooper named Stroszek is sent to the quiet city of Kos with his wife Nora, a Greek nurse, and two other soldiers recovering from minor wounds. Billeted in a decaying fortress, they guard a munitions depot. There’s little to do: Becker, a classicist, translates inscriptions on ancient tablets found in […]
Moonlighting (Schwarzarbeit)
With actors Jeremy Irons and Eugene Lipinski A Polish contractor, Nowak, leads a group of workmen to London so they can provide cheap labor for a government official based there. Nowak (Irons) has to manage the project and the men as they encounter the tempations of the West and loneliness and separation from their families. […]
Kombat Sechzehn (Main Frankfurt Oder)
With actors Florian Bartholomäi Available on DVD in Germany Der 16-jährige Georg lebt mit seinem geschiedenen Vater in Frankfurt am Main. Einen emotionalen Ausgleich zu persönlichen Konflikten findet der Junge im Sport: Georg ist leidenschaftlicher Teakwondo-Kämpfer. Als er mit seinem Vater nach Frankfurt/Oder ziehen muss, und ihm dadurch die ersehnte Chance geraubt wird, die hessische […]
Pane e cioccolata (Bread and Chocolate)
With actors Nino Manfredi, Johnny Dorelli, Anna Karina A comic but poignant portrait of an Italian immigrant working odd jobs in prosperous Switzerland and trying desperately to fit in. Though his work becomes increasingly degrading, he tenaciously refuses to give up and go home. This hapless Everyman is eternally rejected yet ever-hopeful. Links: IMDB Genre(s): […]
Happy Birthday, Türke! (Happy Birthday, Turk!)
With actors Meret Becker, Hansa Czypionka, Özay Fecht available on DVD in Germany This Teutonic film noir received its first U.S. showing at the Seattle Film Festival. Hansa Czypionka plays Kemal Kayankaya, a Turk who speaks no Turkish. Raised in Germany by German parents, he is virtually man without a country, shunned not only by […]
Dreckfresser (Dirt for Dinner)
With actors Sam Meffire and Johannes Brandrup English availability Im Jahr 1992, kurz nach den zahlreichen ausländerfeindlichen Übergriffen in Ostdeutschland, die in Hoyerswerda einen traurigen Höhepunkt fanden, lächelte plötzlich ein junger farbiger Polizist von zahllosen Plakaten zu den Menschen herab: “Ein Sachse” lautete der Slogan der Aktion. Und dieser Sachse hieß Sam Meffire, 1970 als […]