Winterblume (Winter Flowers)
Seventeen years before, Mehmet Umut illegally immigrated from Turkey to Germany. His presence was tolerated there until he became unemployed. Fearing he would apply for welfare, policemen were sent to his apartment to roust him from his bed and have him deported. Much of this drama follows the determined Mehmet as he struggles to sneak […]
Abgebrannt (Burnout)
Pelin, eine junge alleinerziehende Mutter aus dem Problemkiez Berlin-Wedding wird mit ihren drei Kindern von unterschiedlichen Vätern verschiedener Nationen,- Robby (9), Elvis (4) und Roxanne (19 Monate),- zur Mutter-Kind-Kur in einen landschaftlich paradiesischen Kurort nach Norddeutschland verschickt. Die Kur soll Pelin, die immer wieder auf einen Kollisionskurs mit Jugendamt und Familiengericht zusteuert, Zeit zum Nachdenken […]
Book Review: “Septembertee”
As part of their work for the Multicultural Germany undergraduate seminar at UC Berkeley, students in the course have reviewed recent German books relating in various ways to topics of migration, multiculturalism, and contemporary German identity. Julia Schroeder reviewed Renan Demirkan’s memoir Septembertee oder Das geliehene Leben: In der 2008 erschienenen Autobiographie Septembertee: oder das […]
Ferien (Vacation)
Sommer. Ein abgelegenes Landhaus in der Uckermark. Umgeben und verborgen durch einen Wald. In diesem weltabgeschiedenen Refugium lebt Anna (Angela Winkler) mit ihrem Mann Robert (Wigand Witting) und ihrem Sohn Max (Amir Hadzic). Im Verlauf eines Sommers kommen in dem Haus mehrere Generationen der verzweigten Familie zu sammen. Laura (Karoline Eichhorn), Annas Tochter aus erster […]
Evet, Ich will!
The movie revolves around three different couples who have to overcome familial and cultural obstacles to be with their ones they love. A man looking for a bride-for-hire also learns the hard way that expectations and reality do not always come together well. Links: IMDB, Film official website Genre(s): comedy, romance Director: Sinan Akkus Cast: […]
Wut (Rage)
Der Teenager Felix Laub (Robert Höller) stammt aus wohlhabendem Hause und hat zum türkischstämmigen Can (Oktay Özdemir) ein zwiespältiges Verhältnis: Obwohl Felix von Can und seiner Gang drangsaliert wird, kauft er ihm gelegentlich eine Portion Marihana ab. Eines Tages geht Felix mit neuen Turnschuhen auf die Straße, die ihm prompt von Cans Bande ausgezogen werden. […]
Book Review: The Hottest Dishes of the Tartar Cuisine
UC Berkeley undergraduate Melissa Carlson reviewed Alina Bronsky’s 2010 novel: Die schärfsten Gerichte der tartarischen Küche (The Hottest Dishes of the Tartar Cuisine) examines identity and culture in a Tartar family living in Russia and the events that surround their eventual migration to Germany. The story of the Kalganova family is narrated by Rosalinda, the matriarch of the family. […]
Die schärfsten Gerichte der tatarischen Küche (The Hottest Dishes of the Tartar Cuisine)
English translation: The Hottest Dishes of the Tartar Cuisine, translated by Tim Mohr, New York: Europa Editions, 2011. Book review by UC Berkeley undergraduate student Melissa Carlson: Alina Bronsky’s novel, The Hottest Dishes of the Tartar Cuisine, which was written in 2010, examines identity and culture in a Tartar family living in Russia and the events […]
Book Review: “Ohne Fleiss kein Reis: Wie ich ein guter Deutscher wurde”
As part of their work for the Multicultural Germany undergraduate seminar at UC Berkeley, students in the course have reviewed recent German books relating in various ways to topics of migration, multiculturalism, and contemporary German identity. Tanja Mehlo reviewed Martin Hyun’s 2012 Ohne Fleiss kein Reis: Wie ich ein guter Deutscher wurde: Ohne Fleiß kein Reis was written […]
Book Review: “In Times of Fading Light”
As part of their work for the Multicultural Germany undergraduate seminar at UC Berkeley, students in the course have reviewed recent German books relating in various ways to topics of migration, multiculturalism, and contemporary German identity. Jennifer Lau reviewed Eugen Ruge’s 2011 novel, In Zeiten des abnehmenden Lichts (In Times of Fading Light) : Family […]