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Murderers Among Us

By Wolfgang Staudte

Murderers Among Us

By Wolfgang Staudte

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Description
Critically ranked in the top ten of Germany's 100 most important films, Wolfgang Staudte's THE ERS ARE AMONG US is a haunting film about personal accountability and the process of healing in post war Germany. The first feature film produced amid the ruins of East Germany after World War II, under the auspices of the newly created DEFA Studios, THE ERS ARE AMONG US featured the budding star Hildegard Knef. Susanne Wallner (Hildegard Knef) is a concentration camp survivor who, despite unspeakable experiences, is filled with a desire to to some semblance of the routine of her former life. She wants to move back into her Berlin apartment, but soon finds that Dr. Hans Mertens has taken up residence. Once a successful specialist surgeon, Hans cannot to his medical practice after the war, incapable of tolerating the sound of anguish and human despair. She offers to share the apartment with Hans until he can find other lodging, but soon finds herself drawn to the troubled, self-destructive, and angry young man who is trying to suppress his terrible memories through excessive drinking. With Susanne's help, Dr. Mertens slowly to his former self. But first he must confront his former commanding officer, now a prosperous and respected businessman, over a wartime atrocity. THE ERS ARE AMONG US is a compionate portrait of hope, resilience, and personal atonement. Rooted in the tradition of German expressionism, Wolfgang Staudte juxtaposes realistic filmmaking with rapid montage sequences, unusual camera angles, and sharp lighting contrasts to create a disorienting harsh reality that reflects the fractured lives of the war's survivors. What emerges is not a menacing portrait of a faceless Cold War enemy, but a poignant tale of profound humanity and a sincere, desperate cry for justice.
Product details
Release Date:
2002-05-21
Number of Discs:
1
Publication Date:
2002-05-21
Publisher:
First Run Features
Languages:
Published: English, Original: German
GPSR Manufacturer Reference:
[email protected]
Weight:
77 g
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