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The German Friend

Original title: El amigo alemán
  • 2012
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
495
YOUR RATING
Celeste Cid and Max Riemelt in The German Friend (2012)
DramaRomanceWar

A German-Jewish girl becomes friends with the son of an SS officer in Argentina. The two stay friends throughout their adolescence and into adulthood.A German-Jewish girl becomes friends with the son of an SS officer in Argentina. The two stay friends throughout their adolescence and into adulthood.A German-Jewish girl becomes friends with the son of an SS officer in Argentina. The two stay friends throughout their adolescence and into adulthood.

  • Director
    • Jeanine Meerapfel
  • Writer
    • Jeanine Meerapfel
  • Stars
    • Max Riemelt
    • Benjamin Sadler
    • Celeste Cid
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.1/10
    495
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Jeanine Meerapfel
    • Writer
      • Jeanine Meerapfel
    • Stars
      • Max Riemelt
      • Benjamin Sadler
      • Celeste Cid
    • 3User reviews
    • 8Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 2 nominations

    Photos

    The German Friend (2012)
    Celeste Cid in The German Friend (2012)
    Adriana Aizemberg, Hartmut Becker, Celeste Cid, Daniel Fanego, Noemí Frenkel, Carlos Kaspar, Cipe Lincovsky, Fernán Mirás, Jean Pierre Noher, Max Riemelt, Benjamin Sadler, Eduardo Wigutow, Laura Zelaya, Víctor Hugo Carrizo, Joaquín Berthold, Andreas Konzack, Stella Gallazzi, Elsa Surco, Sofía Palomino, Juan Francisco Rey, Juan Freund, Lucas López Caruezo, Carlos Leuquen, Norberto Adrián Marre, Pablo Cañumil, and Julieta Vetrano in The German Friend (2012)
    Celeste Cid, Max Riemelt, Juan Francisco Rey, and Julieta Vetrano in The German Friend (2012)

    Top cast

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    Max Riemelt
    Max Riemelt
    • Friedrich Burg
    Benjamin Sadler
    Benjamin Sadler
    • Michael Tendler
    Celeste Cid
    Celeste Cid
    • Sulamit Löwenstein
    Hartmut Becker
    • Herr Werner Kunheim
    Jean Pierre Noher
    Jean Pierre Noher
    • Philipp Löwenstein
    Daniel Fanego
    Daniel Fanego
    • Eduardo
    Fernán Mirás
    Fernán Mirás
    • Profesor Durán
    Pierre Marquille
    • Profesor francés
    Joaquín Berthold
    Joaquín Berthold
    • Polaco
    Nicolás Goldschmidt
    • Felipe
    Claudio Torres
    • Empleado perrera
    Katja Alemann
    • Martha Burg
    • (as Katja Alemán)
    Adriana Aizemberg
    Adriana Aizemberg
    • Tante Else
    Eliseo Barrionuevo
    Eliseo Barrionuevo
    • Von Alstentatt 2
    Facundo Scalerandi
    • José
    • (as Facundo V. Scalerandi)
    Carlos Kaspar
    • Rudolf Burg
    Santos Lontoya
    • Guardiacárcel 2
    Nathalie Lucia Hahnen
    • Studentin
    • Director
      • Jeanine Meerapfel
    • Writer
      • Jeanine Meerapfel
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Connections
      Featured in Pura Química: Celeste Cid (2012)

    User reviews3

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    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.
    helpful•4
    0
    • hof-4
    • Oct 12, 2017

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 4, 2012 (Argentina)
    • Countries of origin
      • Germany
      • Argentina
    • Languages
      • German
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • My German Friend
    • Filming locations
      • Buenos Aires, Federal District, Argentina
    • Production companies
      • Geißendörfer Film- und Fernsehproduktion (GFF)
      • Jempsa, Ricardo Freixa
      • Malena Filmproduktion & Co
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Gross worldwide
      • $86,166
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 40 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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