THE GERMAN LESSON

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THE GERMAN LESSON

DEUTSCHSTUNDE

By Christian SCHWOCHOW

THE PLAYMAKER MUNICH (A BRAND OF B.A. PRODUKTION GMBH) - as SALES All rights, World

Drama - Completed 2019

In a small North German village a drama played out during and shortly after the Second World War about duty versus individual conscience and morality. Based on Siegfried Lenz‘ classic novel THE GERMAN LESSON and directed by BAD BANK‘s and THE CROWN‘s director Chirstian Schwochow.

Festivals
& Awards

Zurich Film Festival 2019

Filmfest Hamburg 2019

Festival des Deutschen Films in Moskau 2019

Tallinn Black Nights International Film Festival 2019

Bif&st Bari IFF 2020

Film by the Sea 2020

German FF Hong Kong 2020

Das Filmfest Prag 2020

See all

- Year of production
- 2019
- Genres
- Drama
- Countries
- GERMANY, DENMARK
- Languages
- GERMAN
- Duration
- 125 mn
- Director(s)
- Christian SCHWOCHOW
- Writer(s)
- Heide SCHWOCHOW
- Cast
- Ulrich NOETHEN, Tobias MORETTI, Levi EISENBLÄTTER, Johanna WOKALEK, Sonja RICHTER, Maria DRAGUS, Tom GRONAU, Louis HOFMANN
- Producer(s)
- Jutta LIECK-KLENKE, Dr. Dietrich KLUGE, Ulf ISRAEL
- Synopsis
- Germany, just after the Second World War. Siggi Jepsen (Tom Gronau), a young man in juvenile detention, has to write an essay on "The Joys Of Duty". He can't get started, the paper stays blank. When he has to repeat the exercise the next day, this time in a cell as punishment, he writes his memories like a man possessed. Memories of his father Jens Ole Jepsen (Ulrich Noethen), a police officer who was one of the authorities in a small, north-German village and dedicated himself totally to the duties of office. During the war he had to deliver a ban on painting to his childhood friend, the Expressionist artist Max Ludwig Nansen (Tobias Moretti), imposed on him by the National Socialists. He oversees it meticulously and Siggi (Levi Eisenblätter), 11-years-old, is told to help him. But Nansen resists - and likewise builds on Siggi's help, who is like a son for him. The two men's conflict continually escalates - and Siggi stands between them. Fitting in or resistance? This becomes the decisive question for Siggi...