German Film @ Canada - Goethe-Institut

Ready for TIFF18? We are. And we can hook you up with some coveted tickets to German premieres.

The Goethe-Institut is celebrating German films @ TIFF18 by giving away tickets to see masters and debutantes, docs and Oscar long-listed features: Continue reading "Win #TIFF18 tickets" »

#TIFF18 includes Veena Sud’s THE LIE, a remake of Sebastian Ko's original WE MONSTERS, reviewed here:

Two German films in the running this year at TIFF reminded me of the scene in Richard Brooks' Tennessee Williams adaptation CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF, where Elizabeth Taylor's character Maggie calls her family's children "no-neck monsters". While many films use children as catalysts or foils --exemplary at TIFF15 from the unique SON OF SAUL to the outstanding DHEEPAN and Christian Zuebert's ONE BREATH--, two German films very much focus on children and their actions.

What would you do if your child killed a child? Do you stick with the commandments and the social contract or do you follow your parental instincts to protect your child at all costs? Sebastian Ko's WE MONSTERS comes to life and death through the astounding performance of Janina Fautz (THE WHITE RIBBON) as the rebellious and really hard to like teen Sarah Continue reading "#TIFF15 Reviews: Every Thing Will Be Fine &..." »

TIFF18 has announced some 11 German films and 18 co-productions (noticably down from 15 and 25 respectively last year), including veterans like von Trotta and Herzog (US production but he will always remain a Bavarian filmmaker), returning directors such as Petzold and Donnersmarck, and promising surprises like female zombie drama ENDZEIT based on Olivia Vieweg’s graphic novel, directed by Carolina Hellsgård whose previous female-centric feature Wanja we showed you at Goethe Films 2016), as well as the brave choice of including Sven Taddicken’s rape drama THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE. You might wonder, though, what other 2018 offerings didn’t make the cut:

Not at TIFF18:
3 TIFF alumni out of the Berlinale competition. Like Thomas Stuber’s quirky, slow-burning character drama IN THE AISLES, Continue reading "What you won't see at TIFF18" »

The Toronto International Film Festival (6-16 September, 2018) has revealed its full program, including many German films and co-productions. Sven Taddicken will see his THE MOST BEAUTIFUL COUPLE celebrate its world premiere at North America's biggest festival. Other titles by German directors were premiered at leading festivals in Venice, Cannes or Berlin and will have their North American premiere in Toronto. Continue reading "German Films in Toronto 2018" »

4 weeks to go till TIFF, what to do with all those lazy summer evenings? iTunes Canada currently has 200 German movies from Weimar to today for your affordable viewing pleasure. Don’t know where to start or how to tell the good from the meh? Here are a few bespoke, non-algorithm-generated recommendations, with trailers:

If you like ...

it short ☞ After the Years, starring some fine actors, like Daniel Bruehl's Good Bye, Lenin! mum Katrin Sass.

gutsy women ☞ in front of the camera: Louise Brooks getting her rematch in Pabst’ raunchy 1929 Diary of a Lost Girl. Or Everything but Oom-Pa-Pa, a doc about 66 very different women between 20 and 80 who form the world’s biggest female wind orchestra. Behind the camera: gems like Maria Hengge’s Sin & Illy Still Alive -- far and few between the 200 list.

LGBTQ ☞ Continue reading "What to watch on iTunes right now" »