Stars (1959)
"Sterne" (original title)

The tragic love of the Jewish girl and the Nazi officer is presented as a symbol of human purity defeated by fascism and racial prejudice.

Director:

Konrad Wolf

Writer:

Angel Vagenshtain

Stars:

Sasha Krusharska, Jürgen Frohriep, Erik S. Klein

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Credited cast:
Sasha Krusharska	...	Ruth
Jürgen Frohriep	...	Walter
Erik S. Klein	...	Kurt
Stefan Pejchev	...	Bai Petko
Georgi Naumov	...	Blashe
Ivan Kondov	...	Ruth's father
Milka Tuykova	...	Partisan
Shtilyan Kunev	...	Doctor
Naicho Petrov	...	Police Govenor
Elena Hranova	...	Starata evreyka
Leo Conforti	...	Nervniyat evrein
Grigor Vachkov	...	Montyor v rabotilnitzata
Yuriy Yakovlev	...	Germanski ofitzer
Itzhak Finzi	...	Gratzki evrein
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Hans Fiebrandt	...	Soldier

Storyline

Stationed in a Bulgarian village in 1943, Walter, an artist and corporal in the Wehrmacht, lives an almost idyllic life far away from the war. Then, a transit camp is set up for Jews arriving from Greece and awaiting transport to Auschwitz.

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Plot Keywords:

world war two | german | holocaust | bulgaria

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Genres:

War | Drama

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Details

Country:

East Germany Bulgaria

Language:

Bulgarian German Greek Ladino

Release Date:

23 March 1959 (Bulgaria)

Also Known As:

Stars

Filming Locations:

Bulgaria

Company Credits

Production Co:

Boyana Film, Deutsche Film (DEFA)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Featured in Die Nacht der Regisseure (1995)

User Reviews

Subdued, intimate gem

I saw this modest yet powerful film at Occidental College over a decade ago. There were only about two dozen people in the small classroom. There couldn't be a greater contrast with Hollywood's blockbusters. Instead of tormenting us with the horrors of war, this small screen, black and white film envelops us in a cozy intimacy and tries to reach for our deepest humanity and sense of poetry. We get the feeling that war is above all a profound shame, and that everyone is human. That's much more powerful than seeing a lot of combat footage. Small films like this do not even register on the radar of a jaded public. If they are not promoted by discerning people, they will fade into oblivion. Ironically, the most tragic thing about this film, is that it fails to make an impact. Don't you believe that the cream always rises to the top.