Germany Pale Mother


The Second Awakening of Christa Klages


Winter Ade, Helke Misselwitz, 1988


these classes were made possible through a grant we received from Humanities Texas

 GERMAN FEMALE FILM DIRECTORS I KNOW AND LOVE
taught by DR. SANDY FRIEDEN
each class includes a lecture and drinks!
Sponsored by the German Consulate
3 Classes - every Wednesday starting in October 25th - November 8, 2017 @ 6:30PM
these classes were made possible through a grant we received from Humanities Texas
ABOUT THE FILMS THAT WILL BE DISCUSSED: 
October 25th - Germany, Pale Mother    Helma Sanders-Brahms, 1980
Set during the Third Reich and its aftermath, this lyrical, harrowing tale of love and war is a neglected classic of New German cinema.
Hans and Lene scarcely have time to meet and marry before Hans is sent away to fight, leaving Lene to give birth during an air raid and struggle through the war with a baby daughter. Based on director and writer Helma Sanders-Brahms' mother's experience, the film explores the devastating impact of politics of family life.
 
Eva Mates (Lene) gives a brilliant, fearless performance, with the film casting a powerful emotional spell, which is intensified by a delicate, plaintive piano score. German critics savaged the film at its premiere, baulking at its subjective female take on recent history. Cut by 30 minutes for cinema release, only now has it been restored to its impressive original form and released for the first time on Blu-ray
 
November 1st - The Second Awakening of Christa Klages,  Margarethe vib Trotta, 1978
Worried about the prospects of her children's day care center and running out of money, Christa Klages, a young mother, robs a bank with the help of her lover Werner Wiedemann and another friend. When Werner is killed during the heist and when it becomes clear that the police are after her, Christa flees to Portugal to seek help from another friend, Ingrid Häkele, a situation that threatens both women's safety.
 
November 8th -  Winter Ade, Helke Misselwitz, 1988 
Shortly before GDR’s collapse, Helke Misselwitz traveled by train from one end of the country to the other interviewing East German women of different ages and backgrounds. In this documentary masterpiece, women reveal their personal and professional frustrations, hopes and aspirations—and, in doing so, paint a portrait of a changing society. The landscape and architecture of East Germany, filmed in B&W on 35mm by Thomas Plenert, form the background to the stories.
 
ABOUT THE TEACHER:  Dr. Sandy Frieden has taught German film at the University of Houston for more than 35 years, both face-to-face and online.   She has made dozens of presentations on German film, published more than fifteen articles on German cinema and literature, authored a book on German-language autobiography, and was lead editor for Gender and German Cinema: Feminist Interventions (Vol. 1 & 2).   She is also a management consultant and will gladly explain to you how her management consulting is the same as her teaching.