Germany 09Germany
2009, 151min.
The Road We Do Not Walk Together
Script: Dominik Graf, Dir.: Dominik Graf, Martin Gressman, Dir. of Phot.: Martin Gressmann, Sound: Andreas Mucke, Edit.: Katja Dringenberg.
A journey through the architectural landscape records what is on the verge of disappearance: the structures that still preserve the spirit of Germany’s post-war past are due for demolition because Germans want them replaced with structures not burdened with memories.
The Unfinished
Script/Dir.: Nicolette Krebitz, Dir. of Phot.: Patrick Orth, Sound: Peter Schmidt, Edit.: Bettina Böhler.
Cast: Helene Hegemann, Sandra Hüller, Jasmin Tabatabai.
A dialogue between Susan Sontag, Ulrike Meinhof and Helene Hegemann.
First Day
Script/Dir.: Angela Schanelec, Dir. of Phot.: Reinhold Vorschneider, Sound: Andreas Mücke, Edit.: Mathilde Bonnefoy.
Cast: Nina Monka.
A short film at the break of dawn.
A Democratic Discussion at Designated Times
Script/Dir.: Isabelle Stever, Dir. of Phot.: Rali Raltchev, Sound: Silvio Naumann,
Edit.: Oliver Neumann.
Cast: Johanna Nagel.
In the fourth grade of an elementary school in the multicultural quarter of Hasenbergl in Munich, a young teacher attempts to instill non-violent communication with the help of a reform educational method: in their weekly class council meetings, the children learn the basic concepts of democratic problem solving.
Bias
Script/Dir.: Sylke Enders, Dir. of Phot.: Inigo Westmeier, Sound: Peter Schmidt, Edit.: Dietmar Kraus.
Cast: Dennis Grawe, Karl Markovics, Anneke Kim Sarnau, Winnie Böwe, Bernd Birkhan.
Snap shots taken from the lives of three people whose paths cross in a soup kitchen for children.
Sick House/Hospital
Script: Wolfgang Becker, Jan-Ole Gerster, Dir.: Wolfgang Becker, Dir of Phot: Jürgen Jürges, Sound: Kai Lude, Edit.: Peter Adam.
Cast: Peter Jordan, Andreas Hofer, Andreja Schneider, Arnd Klawitter, Edeltraut Schubert, Susanne Wuest, Alexander Khuon.
A terrible accident on a highway in Germany. Emergency room. This clinic has enough space for everyone. Infractions of the social system, suboptimal human capital, defects in the moral flexibility center or socially acceptable early demise. But it could get worse! Dr. Kattelbach, the specialist, is nowhere to be found.
Being Murat Kurnaz
Script/Dir.: Fatih Akin, Dir. of Phot.: Rainer Klausmann, Sound: Kai Lüde, Edit.: Andrew Bird.
Cast: Denis Moschitto, Kai Strittmatter.
A contemporary document. On the 21st of October 2008, one of the rare interviews with Murat Kurnaz given after his release from the Guantanamo Bay detention camp appeared on the online portal of the Süddeutsche Zeitung.
Joshua
Script/Dir.: Dani Levy, Dir. of Phot.: Carl-F. Koschnick, Kai Rostásy, Sound: Raoul Grass, Edit.: Anne Jünemann.
Cast: Dani Levy, Joshua Levy, Hans Hollmann.
The miracle cure promorganas that is supposed to open the eyes of the notorious doomsayer Levyworks. A great joy suddenly spreads throughout the world and people are filled with kindness and willingness to help each other. After the second ampoule however, everything turns into something quite different.
Preventive Action
Script/Dir.: Hans Weingartner, Dir. of Phot.: Bernadette Paassen, Sound: Matthias Richter, Edit.: Dirk Oetelshoven.
Cast: Christoph Jacobi, Claudia Geisler, Justus Carriere, Uwe Bohm, Helene Grass.
In 1994 the Secretary of the Interior, received a suitcase with 100,000 DM from an arms dealer.Lists of “potential offenders” are compiled that clearly override the right of presumption of innocence. From now on, everyone is guilty until he can prove otherwise.
Ramses
Script/Dir.: Romuald Karmakar, Dir. of Phot.: Frank Griebe, Sound: Paul Oberle,Bern von Bassewitz, Edit.: Johannes Weuthen.
Cast: Mahmoud Rahimzadiany.
A close look at the world of an Iranian bar owner who for many years has been running a small bar near the Ku’damm in Berlin.A portrait of a mysterious place from the past.
Séance
Script/Dir.: Christoph Hochhäusler, Dir. of Phot.: Bernhard Keller, Sound: Benedikt Schiefer, Edit.: Anja Conrad.
A German fairy tale that somehow takes place in the future on the far side of the moon.
Font
Script/Dir.: Hans Steinbichler, Dir. of Phot.: Bella Halben, Sound: Alex von Zündt, Edit.: Niko Brinkmann.
Cast: Josef Bierbichler, Adriana Altaras, Tim Seyfi.
Riesch Beintl, an industrialist from Obersalzberg, painfully discovers that newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine, his greatest ally and consolation, has changed its layout with no advance warning. As words prove futile, Bientl decides to take action.
Feierlich Travels
Script/Dir.: Tom Tykwer, Dir. of Phot.: Frank Griebe, Sound: Arno Wilms, Edit.: Mathile Bonnefoy.
Cast: Benno Fürmann, Eva Habermann.
Several times a year, Feierlich, the sales director of a fashion label, flies around his global company’s universe. He makes his travel stress somewhat bearable by systemizing his impressions. Something he doesn’t comprehend disturbs him.
| 13 directorsA group of Germany's most acclaimed film directors has come together to create Germany 09, a very personal panorama of the social and political situation in their country today. Germany 09 comes right in the midst of the social upheaval brought about by “Agenda 2010” on the path to the globalized 21st century, more than 60 years after the end of World War II, 40 years after the student uprisings of 1968, 30 years after the 1977's “German Autumn” and 20 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. The filmmakers are: Fatih Akin, Wolfgang Becker, Sylke Enders, Dominik Graf, Christoph Hochhäusler, Romuald Karmakar, Nicolette Krebitz, Dani Levy, Angela Schanelec, Hans Steinbichler, Isabelle Stever, Tom Tykwer, Hans Weingartner. Free to choose the format and content, each of the participating directors presents his or her personal interpretation and filmic portrayal of how they perceive Germany today. The novellas, abstract or concrete, range from short film to documentary, from essay to experimental. |
