Germania anno zero (1948)

Director:

Roberto Rossellini

Writers:

Roberto Rossellini (story)
Max Kolpé (screenplay)

Release Date:

19 September 1949 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Edmund, a young boy who lives in the destructed Germany after the 2nd World War has to do all kinds...

Plot Keywords:

Soldier | Nazi | German | Germany | Young Boy

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

Edmund Moeschke	...	Edmund (as Edmund Meschke)
Ernst Pittschau	...	Il padre
Ingetraud Hinze	...	Eva (as Ingetraud Hinz)
Franz-Otto Krüger	...	Karl-Heinz (as Franz Grüger)
Erich Gühne	...	Il maestro

Also Known As:

Germany Year Zero (USA)

Runtime:

78 min | Brazil:71 min | USA:71 min (TCM print)

Country:

Italy

Language:

German | English | French

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

West Germany:16 (f) | Argentina:Atp | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Berlin, Germany

Company:

Produzione Salvo D'Angelo

Trivia:

The film is dedicated to Romano Rosselini, Roberto Rossellini's son who died prematurely in 1946.

Quotes:

Edmund: Eva, they're cutting the power.
Eva: The power? Why?
Edmund: They discovered someone was stealing it.
Eva: Who?
Karl-Heinz: Someone.
Edmund: Rademaker says it was us.
Karl-Heinz: As usual.
Eva: So that's what he was screaming about.
Karl-Heinz: That black marketer. One day I'll smash his head.
Eva: You're such a big talker, but when it comes to helping us, you do nothing.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Taxi zum Klo (1981)

Rossellini's great post-war, neo-realist masterpiece

This masterpiece, filmed while the action and subject matter of the film, was at its most intense, is a must see. Featuring non-professional actors, in the neo-realist style which defined post-war Italian cinema, you will experience a lyrical view of Germany, actually devastated Berlin. This is how it was at Hour Zero, or "Anno Zero" when new currency was introduced, and the economy started again from scratch with each German receiving the same (very little) cash to rebuild their lives, and indeed their country. The film has magnificent scenes including the voice of Adolf Hitler coming from a record player among the ruins of the Chancellery, deaths in gutted buildings, and several especially poignant scenes of the young boy who has known nothing but misery during his few years of life, yet continues his fight to survive.