The German Friend (2012)

Argentina, in the middle fifties. Sulamit is the daughter of German-Jewish refugees. Friedrich is the son of German-Nazis refugees. Both children are closely friends as times goes by ... See full summary »

Director:

Jeanine Meerapfel

Writer:

Jeanine Meerapfel

Stars:

Max Riemelt, Benjamin Sadler, Celeste Cid

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Max Riemelt	...	Friedrich Burg
Benjamin Sadler	...	Michael Tendler
Celeste Cid	...	Sulamit Löwenstein
Daniel Fanego	...	Eduardo
Hartmut Becker	...	Herr Werner Kunheim
Jean Pierre Noher	...	Philipp Löwenstein
Joaquín Berthold	...	Polaco
Fernán Mirás	...	Profesor Durán
Katja Alemann	...	Martha Burg (as Katja Alemán)
Nathalie Lucia Hahnen	...	Studentin
Adriana Aizemberg	...	Tante Else
Sofia Palomino	...	Cristina
Nicolas Goldschmidt	...	Felipe (as Nicolás Goldschmidt)
Víctor Hugo Carrizo	...	Guardiacárcel 1
Cipe Lincovsky	...	Liesl Feldmann

Storyline

Argentina, in the middle fifties. Sulamit is the daughter of German-Jewish refugees. Friedrich is the son of German-Nazis refugees. Both children are closely friends as times goes by between the fall of Peron's Government in 1955 and the years of prison, torture and death in Argentina since 1976 to 1983. The children grow up and go to Germany, both get involved in the political struggles of 1968 and Friedrich, who always rejected the Nazi past of his father, becomes a left winged militant and decides to come back to Argentina to fight against the Military Government. The love of Sulamit for Friedrich survives all these years, though he dedicates more time to his political commitments than to his personal feelings. But those two are destined to get together after all these years of separation and disagreements, because their love is more powerful than anything else.

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Plot Keywords:

love | f rated | nudity | male nudity | male frontal nudity | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance | War

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Details

Country:

Germany Argentina

Language:

German Spanish

Release Date:

4 October 2012 (Argentina)

Also Known As:

A német barát

Filming Locations:

Buenos Aires, Federal District, Argentina

Company Credits

Production Co:

Geißendörfer Film- und Fernsehproduktion (GFF), Jempsa, Ricardo Freixa, Malena Filmproduktion & Co

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Featured in Pura Química: Celeste Cid (2012)

User Reviews

30 years of Argentine history

The story covers the relationship of Sulamit, daughter of German Jewish parents that found refuge in Argentina before WWII and Friedrich, son of an unrepentant ex-SS officer emigrated to Argentina under false identity after the war. Both Sulamit and Friedrich were born in Argentina, and in the mid 1950s live in rather similar houses across the street in a suburb of Buenos Aires. Their friendship and subsequent liaison continues for many years in Argentina and Germany. Director Jeanine Meerapfel's family background is similar to that of Sulamit, thus we may assume there are autobiographic elements here.

The film touches upon many subjects and questions. Some of them pertain to the main characters' interaction, for instance: what role should family's past play in one's life? (some of Shulamit's relatives perished in the Holocaust, Friedrich's father is probably guilty of war crimes). Other, more general subjects are the unwillingness of German postwar governments to deal with Nazis, the hopes raised by Salvador Allende's win in the Chilean presidential elections in 1970 (dashed by his overthrow and murder by the Chilean military in 1973), and the hopelessness of armed resistance to the 1976-1983 military dictatorship in Argentina. Some of the references, such as the failed military coup of June 1955, writer Jorge Luis Borges' fondness for military dictatorships or a particular antisemitic incident that followed the abduction of Adolf Eichmann in 1960 by Israeli agents need knowledge of recent Argentine history.

What makes this film so good is the placement of a personal story (told without undue sentimentality) in a precise historical context, that of Argentina in the period 1955-1985. Having lived in Argentina during much of that time, each reference was familiar to me (for instance, the white smock that Sulamit wears in school or the song she and her classmates sing at the ceremony of raising of the flag before the beginning of classes). Meerapfel's direction is fluid, and her script is flawless; every character's lines ring true. Acting and cinematography are also excellent. A must see.