Germany Year Zero (1948) Germania anno zero (original title)

Director:

Roberto Rossellini

Writers:

Roberto Rossellini (screenplay)
Roberto Rossellini (dialogue) ...
(more)

Release Date:

19 September 1949 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

The country is obliterated, the buildings are dilapidated and the people are desolated.

Plot:

Edmund, a young boy who lives in war-devastated Germany after the Second World War has to do all kinds...

Plot Keywords:

Boy | Work | Nazi | Soldier | Pedophile

Awards:

3 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
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Heidi Blänkner	...	Frau Rademaker (uncredited)
Jo Herbst	...	Jo (uncredited)
Barbara Hintz	...	Thilde (uncredited)
Adolf Hitler	...	Himself (voice) (archive footage) (uncredited)
Karl Krüger	...	Il medico (uncredited)
Alexandra Manys	...	Amica di Eva (uncredited)
Christl Merker	...	Christl (uncredited)
Gaby Raak	...	La donna di generale (uncredited)
Inge Rocklitz	...	Rifugiata (uncredited)
Hans Sangen	...	Herr Rademaker (uncredited)
Babsi Schultz-Reckewell	...	La figlia di Rademacher (uncredited)
Franz von Treuberg	...	Il generale von Laubniz (uncredited)

Directed by
Roberto Rossellini

Writing credits
Roberto Rossellini		(screenplay)
Roberto Rossellini		dialogue and
Carlo Lizzani		and
Max Kolpé		dialogue (as Max Colpet)
Sergio Amidei		(italian version)
Basilio Franchina		based on an idea by (uncredited)

Produced by
Salvo D'Angelo	....	associate producer
Alfredo Guarini	....	executive producer
Roberto Rossellini	....	producer

Original Music by
Renzo Rossellini

Cinematography by
Robert Juillard		(as Robert Julliard)

Film Editing by
Eraldo Da Roma

Art Direction by
Piero Filippone

Production Management
Marcello Bollero	....	production supervisor
Alberto Manni	....	production supervisor
Alfredo Guarini	....	unit manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Max Kolpé	....	assistant director (as Max Colpet)
Carlo Lizzani	....	assistant director
Franz von Treuberg	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Kurt Doubrowsky	....	sound technician (as Kurt Doubrawsky)

Camera and Electrical Department
Jacques Robin	....	camera operator
Emil Puet	....	camera operator (uncredited)

Music Department
Edoardo Micucci	....	musical director

Other crew
Vincenzo Genesi	....	laboratory technician (as V. Genesi)
Giancarlo Campidori	....	production secretary (uncredited)
Charles Clement	....	subtitler: English (1949 release) (uncredited)
Sonya Friedman	....	subtitler (1978 English language version) (uncredited)

Thanks
Marco Romano Rossellini	....	dedicatee (as Mio figlio Romano)

Production Companies

• Tevere Film
• SAFDI
• Union Générale Cinématographique (UGC)
• Deutsche Film (DEFA) (technical production)

Distributors

• G.D.B. Film (1948) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Superfilm Distributing Corporation (1949) (USA) (theatrical) (English subtitles)
• Fincine (1948) (Italy) (theatrical)
• L'Alliance Générale de Distribution Cinématographique (1949) (France) (theatrical)
• Criterion Collection, The (2010) (USA) (DVD)
• MacMillan Films Inc. (1978) (USA) (new English subtitles)

Other Companies

• Ricordi  music published by (as G. Ricordi & C.)
• Stabilimenti Titanus S.A.  post-production and dubbing facilities

Also Known As:

"Germania anno zero" - Italy (original title)

Runtime:

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

Country:

Italy | France | Germany

Language:

German | English | French

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | West Germany:16 (f) | Argentina:Atp | USA:Not Rated

Filming Locations:

Berlin, Germany

Company:

Tevere Film

Trivia:

On the occasion of the projection of this film in the Brussels Royal Filmmuseum (recently restyled as "Cinematek.be") on September 7th 1997, the program quoted Belgian filmmaker Henri Storck (1907-1999): "It is a well guarded secret, but during the filming in Berlin Marlene Dietrich - desperately in love - was Rossellini's secretary, typist and translator".

Quotes:

Il maestro:Weren't you one of my students?
Edmund:Yes, Mr. Enning.
Il maestro:My memory's good. What's your name?
Edmund:Edmund Koeler.
Il maestro:Edmund Koeler. First desk on the left. You've grown up. How is your father?
Edmund:My father is sick, very sick.
Il maestro:Didn't you have a brother in the Wermacht?
Edmund:Yes, Karl-Heinz. He was in the military, but he's home now.
Il maestro:Then he must be out of work, like me.
Edmund:You're not teaching anymore?
[...]

Movie Connections:

Featured in Taxi zum Klo (1980)

Neorealist view of post-war Germany, provided through the experiences of a 12-year-old boy

This film was without a doubt one of the most difficult films I have ever seen. The directing is very much Neorealist, and as such presents a very objective view of the devastation in post-war Germany and the lives of the people therein. I experienced what the characters went through, and grew numb and tired of the harsh reality of such a ravaged world right along with them. In the character of Edmund (main character) is presented a dark individual fallen victim to the consequences of war within a country, and as I as the audience witnessed the desperation of his life I was, dare I say, almost forced to disconnect myself from the experience. Disconcerting on a masterful level. I highly recommend this movie to anyone interested in being probed to examine and challenge their natural response to tragedy.