The selection of films for the Retrospective 2023 was determined by the progressive deterioration of old film material produced at the former University of Film and Television in Babelsberg. The films were preserved for posterity through careful digitalization and restoration. The result is a selection of different, but also surprisingly complementary film contributions, all of which serve as testaments to the world before 1990. The digitalization of the films was supported by the Foundation for Film Heritage (FFE or Förderprogramm Filmerbe) with financial support from the Federal Commissioner for Culture and Media, the federal states and the Federal Film Board.
Erste Begegnung
First Encounter

Gabriela Hochneder (director) tells the story of a married couple who ventures to new shores by adopting two sisters, a teenager and a toddler. The film addresses the question of the meaning of family with an empathetic eye.
Meiningen-Meiningen

The documentary is about the everyday work of a brigade in a MITROPA dining car. It begins with the preparations for work and accompanies the staff throughout the day. The film portrait addresses and problematizes the challenges of the workforce in the GDR.
Ein Herbst im Ländchen Bärwalde
An Autumn in the Little Country of Bärwalde

Gautam Bora (director) only knew the descriptions of German farms from children’s books. This film compares and contrasts his preconceived ideas with the realities of farm families’ daily and working life in Germany and India.
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