Germany Year Zero (1948)

A young German boy faces the problems of the tough life in the immediate post WWII Berlin.

Director:

Roberto Rossellini

Writers:

Roberto Rossellini (screenplay), Roberto Rossellini (dialogue)

Stars:

Edmund Moeschke, Ernst Pittschau, Ingetraud Hinze

4 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Edmund Moeschke	...	Edmund Köhler (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

Storyline

Edmund, a young boy who lives in war-devastated Germany after the Second World War has to do all kinds of work and tricks to help his family in getting food and barely survive. One day he meets a man who used to be one of his teachers in school and hopes to get support from him, but the ideas of this man do not lead Edmund in a clearer or safer way of living...

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Plot Keywords:

post world war two germany | rubble | boy | food rationing | post war germany | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Drama | War

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to his autobiography, Klaus Kinski went in to audition for an unspecified part for Roberto Rossellini when he came to Berlin. He claims that after hours of waiting while Rossellini was on the phone with Anna Magnani in another room, Kinski characteristically burst out in anger and cursed Rossellini. The Italian director was reputedly heard saying as Kinski was storming out: "Chi è quello? Mi interessa! Fategli un provino!" (Translation: "Who is he? Interesting! Arrange for a screen test!")

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Quotes

Karl-Heinz: Who gave you money to buy cigarettes?
Edmund: It was a gift.
Karl-Heinz: From who? Those bad boys you go stealing with?
Edmund: It wasn't boys. It was a girl.
Karl-Heinz: You should be ashamed of yourself.
Edmund: Why? Everybody does it.
Karl-Heinz: That's not a reason.
Edmund: Her name is Christl. She's all alone, and she sleeps in a basement. She's a nice girl. I like her. She gives cigarettes to all her friends. You should have a woman to take care of you.
Karl-Heinz: A woman? That's all I need. Like this bitch of a life wasn't enough.
Edmund: Don't talk like that! Have courage!
[...]

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Connections

Featured in Fejezetek a film történetéböl: A neorealizmus (1990)

User Reviews

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.

Details

Country:

Italy France Germany

Language:

German English French

Release Date:

19 September 1949 (USA)

Also Known As:

Germany Year Zero

Filming Locations:

Berlin, Germany

Company Credits

Production Co:

Tevere Film, SAFDI, Union Générale Cinématographique (UGC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

78 min 71 min (TCM print) 73 min (Blu-ray)

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1