Category: Media

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French graphic novels in the Reed College Library

Graphic novels are a huge form of popular media in France. Most French public libraries dedicate a large section to the bande dessinée alongside more typical forms of literature. French graphic novels have a flavor that is somehow both romantic and sordid, and a pace that runs much slower than a comparable American comic strip (the French are less concerned whether the story has a hero, follows an arc, or moves towards any resolution). They are typically very funny. Lucky for us, the Reed College library has several shelves of French bandes dessinées! For this blog, I read and reviewed four of them.

Most of the stories I read for this blog are in the realm of the fantastic, and I  recommend going through slowly to absorb both images and the text. Sit down with a notebook and a dictionary, and plenty of time to take in both art and storytelling. These books are accessible to intermediate or advanced readers.

Finally, these graphic novels are a great source of new vocabulary since they include plenty of colloquialisms. A set of flashcards on Quizlet is linked below with my favorite words and phrases from the bandes dessinées I read.

https://quizlet.com/237885378/french-phrases-of-interest-flash-cards/

Les petits ruisseaux, Pascal Rabaté. 2006.
Call no. PN6747.R33 P48 2006

This story follows an old man named Emile who no longer finds much meaning in his old age. One day while out fishing, his best friend tells Emile to stop pitying himself and take full advantage of life while he can. Emile’s quiet life of solitude ends abruptly when he starts to take this advice. Do we assume that life and lust belong to the young? The tricks up his sleeve are predictable, but Emile’s character is compelling and it’s funny to see his sleazy side let loose. This bande dessinée won the Grand Prix de la Critique in 2007 from L’Association des Critiques et journalistes de Bande Dessinée (ACBD). It was made into a film in 2010.

        

 

Ici Même, Jean-Claude Forest et Jacques Tardi. 1979.
Call no. PN6747.F687 I35 2006

This is a strange fairy tale about a man who lives atop the walls surrounding a neighborhood. He is not allowed to descend or set foot on the land below. Arthur Même, as the man is called, walks a fine line between dignity and mania, satire and hyperbole, as he gatekeeps for the wealthy socialites beneath the walls. A boatman comes once a day to deliver mail, cheese and wine. These are Arthur’s only interactions. The plot is full of tropes (spies, an ancient inheritance, war between the families, and a love affair) but intriguing nonetheless for its oddity. The novel is in black and white.

         

 

Le Dérisoire, Olivier Supiot et Eric Omond. 2002.
Call no. PN6747.S85 D4 2002

Le Dérisoire is a mix between Moby Dick and Alice in Wonderland. It features a solitary captain on a derelict ship in the ocean, going nowhere, in despair about his situation and his inability to fix it. His crew are all skeletons, having died some time ago, yet somehow remaining on board the ship. It seems that nothing ever leaves the ship and the ship itself never leaves. The furnace at the heart of the ship has gone out, leaving only cold empty steel, but still it floats. And which of the characters are living? Into this drifting tapestry comes a phantom woman, Constance, who brings color and life onto the ship. Is she real? Is the ship? Is anyone? The graphic novel has a dreamy watercolor-like style and is beautiful enough that it doesn’t matter that the plot doesn’t make sense.

         

 

5 est le numéro parfait: 1994-2002, Igort, translated from Italian by Lidia Licari. 2002.
Call no. PN6767.I36 A6314 2002

This graphic novel was originally a three-part series that was later collected into one large volume. It follows a family in Naples embroiled in classic 50s-era mob drama. Think The Godfather–there’s shootouts in the woods, religious symbology, intimate family scenes, rivalries and backstabbing. The book moves quickly, lots of people get shot, and there is only one woman, the damsel in distress. This is a true Italian action comic, with a minimalist art style in grayscale and simple block colors. The author, who writes under the name Igort, has been at the center of the Italian comic scene for decades and published many other graphic novels. 5 est le numéro parfait is his most famous.

       

Copyright: All images taken from www.bedetheque.com/

“Les petits ruisseaux,” Pascal Rabaté. Futuropolis. 2006. https://www.bdgest.com/chronique-1530-BD-Petits-ruisseaux-Les-petits-ruisseaux.html?_ga=2.50200686.916534693.1512955637-12593617.1508988380

“Ici Même,” Jean-Claude Forest et Jacques Tardi. Casterman. 1979. https://www.bedetheque.com/serie-1684-BD-Ici-Meme.html

“Le Dérisoire” Olivier Supiot. Glénat. 2002. https://www.bedetheque.com/serie-6173-BD-Derisoire.html

“5 est le numéro parfait,” Igort. Casterman. 2002. https://www.bedetheque.com/serie-5200-BD-5-est-le-numero-parfait.html

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Film/TV – Media Resources 5

Welcome to the fifth and final installment of our media resources series! This post features some recommended films and television series as well as streaming websites for content in the languages supported at Reed.

 

Kanopy Streaming

Kanopy is an online streaming website (like Netflix or Hulu) featuring a large number of films in many languages. Subscription is required, but is free and supplied through Reed. Simply select your institution (i.e., Reed College) and create a free account using an email address. Films are available in a total of 28 languages, including French, German, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, and Arabic. Most of the films on the website are classics: the Criterion Collection/Janus Films programme, for example, is offered. Films are spoken in the language of production, and many include subtitles in English or the original language.

Arabic

Wadjda (2015)

The first feature-length by a female Saudi director, this debut follows the life of Wadjda an 11-year old Saudi girl. She is unlike other girls in her class; she wears Converse shoes under her clothes, she aspires to ride a bike, something uncommon amongst girls, and has the wit to understand the very mature things happening around her. Wadjda strives to win a Quran recital competition to win enough money to buy a bike, so she can race her male friend. Along this journey of trying to win the competition she faces issues with her family and struggles with her identity.

Theeb/Wolf (2015)

This coming of age story concerns Theeb, the youngest of three sons who resides in a Bedouin community; a community of arab nomads with his two brothers. The movie takes place in 1916 during the Arab Revolt, a time when Arab nationalist sought independence from Ottoman Turks. One day in Theeb’s community a British army officer comes searching for a well to drink from. From there, when he tries to aid this officer, he is met with a series of unfortunate events that will ultimately lead him to travel through a desert with Hassan, the mercenary that has killed his brother. Theeb traverses the desert with great composure and dignity, knowing that Hassan needs him and he needs Hassan. When the journey ends can these two men trust each other or will there be hostility between them?

Chinese

花樣年華/In the Mood for Love (2001)

Set in 1962 Hong Kong, the film follows the lives of two couples in a small crevice of the city. The spectator is only ever are allowed to see the wife in one relationship, Li-zhen and the husband from the other relationship, Chow interact with each other. It becomes apparent to the audience as small pieces of evidence begin to build up that their spouses are having a relationship with each other. The two protagonists of the film are transfixed in a passionate sensorium trying to combat a multi-faceted loneliness aided by the cheating spouses, the bustling city, and the ambiguous stance of the protagonists’ relationship.

Stray Dogs (2014)

A Taiwanese family, composed of a father and his children are struggling to make ends meet in Taipei. The father makes a living by holding up a sign for a real estate company, while his children wander through a supermarket or the outskirts of the city. The movie is not conventionally filmed and edited, but is rather strung together with long shots that show the complexity of daily mundane occurrences. Though the family lacks a mother-figure, this figure presents itself in many forms, creating a sense of wholeness in the film. In what seems to be a post-apocalyptic setting of sorts, with the bleak weather conditions, and their human conditions, there are hidden silver linings.

French

M6

On the 6play website, you can gain free access to French television programs, including some French dubs of English shows like NCIS and Hawaii 5-0. You do have to create an account using your email or Facebook account. The website may play an ad with audio immediately when you access it.

Jules et Jim/Jules and Jim (1962)

Jules, an Austrian and Jim,a Frenchman are best friends who seek knowledge and beauty together through poetry, language, and women. One day they see a sculpture of a woman that embodies their ideals of beauty and travel to the Adriatic to find it and see it. They are completely taken aback when they meet this ideal of beauty in the flesh when they meet Catherine. The both fall in love with her; their friendship suspended in a love triangle. Questions of how and if their friendship can be preserved arise as Catherine is incapable of making up her mind in deciding who she loves more. The film is pulsating with life, keen insights into the things we consider sacred in relationships, and though in black and white embodies the spirit of French New Wave Cinema.

The African Doctor (2016)

A doctor from the Congo finds a job in rural France and brings his family to stay in a tiny town there. The movie deals with themes of racism, prejudice, and homesickness as it shows the ups and downs of moving into a foreign country. But it remains lighthearted with many funny moments, such as the doctor building his business by frequenting the local bar and getting drunk. All the characters are well-acted; humorous, sad, and ultimately triumphant–this is a family you’ll want to spend more time with. Based on a true story.

German

Leben der anderen/The Lives of Others (2006)

In this German melodrama, a member of the Stasi, Gerd Weisler who has dedicated his life to following and spying on those who might pose a threat to the government of East Germany suddenly becomes enveloped with the life of a playwright and his lover. He begins to care about these complete strangers, and tries to undermine the request of his government minister in order to protect these two innocent lives. A touch of humanism is revealed through the protagonist’s dedication to his own moral code, which he realizes overlaps with the lives of others. A sleek, riveting piece of cinema, one will be on the edge of their seat until the end.

Tatort

Tatort, a mystery/crime show, is one of Germany’s most popular TV-series, consisting of over one thousand episodes since its release in 1970. Episodes are individually produced by regional TV stations, featuring a variety of locations in the German-speaking world including Munich, Stuttgart, Cologne, Vienna, and even Switzerland. Although each location has its own characters and plots, nearly 30 full-length (90min) episodes are released each year, contributing to highly-developed stories and character relations. The level of German is fairly advanced, but the context and plot are easy to follow, and the variety of settings provides a good insight into regional dialects and accents.

Russian

Последний из Магикян (Last of the Magikyan)

All episodes available on Youtube. This sitcom follows a mixed Russian-Armenian family living in present day Moscow — comparable to Modern Family in its scope and silliness. An excellent resource for beginning students who want to start watching TV/films in Russian, as the dialogue is fairly easy to follow (children are often speaking) and context makes the simple plots easy to understand. The first episode is especially useful, as it deals with lots of beginning vocabulary — birthdays, smiles, nationalities, etc. A genuinely funny and heartfelt show about identity, family, and modern life.

Ivanovo Detstvo (Ivan’s Childhood) (1962)

Ivan’s Childhood opens with a dream—the film’s protagonist, 12-year-old Ivan Bondarev, runs around barefoot, chasing butterflies with his mother—before grounding itself into the harsh reality of World War II, where Ivan fights for the Soviet army as a frontline scout. The film continues in this non-linear fashion, where memories of serene family life are contrasted with the trauma of wartime life—although he is only a child, Ivan has experienced tremendous loss. Tarkovsky’s first feature film, Ivan’s Childhood joined a new genre of war films under the de-Stalinization of the late ‘50s and ‘60s, such as The Cranes Are Flying and Father of the Soldier—at a time when World War II was still a major influence on Soviet identity, these films moved away from the typical heroic and glorified post-war narratives and instead centered around the anguish and sorrow of Soviet citizens.

Spanish

Relatos Salvajes/Wild Tales (2015)

In this Argentine drama, the line between civilization and barbarism is constantly breached through a series of vignettes. Scenes of violence, dark humor, and witty dialogue make this a palpable and enjoyable film. If you don’t mind something macabre, and are perhaps an aficionado of Tarantino and the Coen Brothers, this is the movie for you.

El espíritu de la colmena (1973)

In naming this movie, the director was inspired by the “all-powerful, enigmatic and paradoxical being which bees obey and man’s reason has never been able to understand.” This movie centers on a little girl who becomes obsessed with Frankenstein and comes to believe he lives hidden at the edge of her sleepy Spanish town. Praised as one of the best Spanish movies of all time, “The Spirit of the Beehive” is slow paced and features many long yet stunning takes. The fact that the cinematographer was going blind during filming is a perfect way to explain the character of this movie, surreal, enigmatic, and paradoxical.

Pragda

Pragda is a film distribution company for Ibero-American films. Its film catalogue is updated and modern and includes a lot of information about each film. It’s a good place to start to find new Spanish-language movies!

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Museums – Media Resources 2

Welcome to the second installment of our media resources series! This post directs you to various museum websites to begin exploring various cultures within the languages Reed supports. 

 

Arabic

The National Bardo Museum

The National Bardo Museum in Tunis has collections spanning Tunisia’s Phoenician to Islamic history. The website is available in Arabic, French, and English. It features information about the museum and its collections, including extended information on 101 significant artifacts.

Biblioteca Alexandrina

This reimagined library of Alexandria holds a public library, museums, and research collections. The website, available in Arabic, French, and English, provides information about the various departments of the Biblioteca Alexandrina as well as events held in the space.

Mandarin

Forbidden City and Palace Museum

The Forbidden City is a massive palace complex in Beijing, dating originally from the fifteenth century. The Forbidden City is a popular tourist destination for both its palace architecture and for the collection of artifacts from the imperial period housed within the palace. The website, available in both Chinese and English, contains information about the palace, including virtual tours; digital views of the collection; and information about exhibits.

Museum of the Terracotta Warriors and Horses of Shihuang

The tomb of Qin Shi Huang, the first Qin emperor, is one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world. Thousands of unique sculptures of warriors and hundreds of horses made of terracotta were buried with the emperor in the third century BCE. The website of the museum, which is located in Xi’an, includes information about these finds.

French

Musée d’Orsay

This museum houses mostly French artwork from the second half of the 19th and early 20th centuries. The website features information about the collection, including digital exhibits; information about topics like restoration and the history of the museum; and news and cultural events.

Musée du Louvre

The Louvre is one of the world’s largest museums, featuring cultural and artistic works for all over the world and from different time periods. The website allows you to search for specific works, look at the collections, or explore the history of the museum.

Musée Cluny

This is the national museum of the Middle Ages. The website gives pictures and context for works in a timeline or by themes. There’s also a section for resources, with links to other significant medieval sites and bibliography.

German

Die Pinakotheken im Kunstareal München

These are five of Munich’s most influential art museums, which showcase works dating from as early as the 13th century to the present-day. The website includes information about exhibits and

Haus der Kunst

Built by the Nazi regime, Haus der Kunst now houses modern, often controversial artworks from throughout the world. The website features information about exhibits as well as the history of the museum. One of the highlights of the website are the richly illustrated free PDF booklets on past exhibitions and artists.

Leopold Museum

This museum in Vienna exhibits modern and expressionist work from some of the most well-known Viennese artists of the 20th Century. The website includes an easy-to-navigate exploration of the masterpieces of the permanent collection.

Museuminsel

Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Museum island in Berlin is comprised of five state museums and galleries known not only for the artworks on display but also for buildings’ architectural beauty, as well. The Altes Museum, Neues Museum, and Pergamonmuseum feature prehistoric to classical art; the Bode-Museumhouses Byzantine art, sculpture, and a numismatics collection, and the Alte Nationalgalerie features 19th-century painting.

Russian

The Hermitage

The Hermitage museum is the largest in Russia and one of the largest in the world, with collections from antiquities to post-impressionist art. The website features information on current exhibits and the ability to search the extensive collection or highlights of the collection

The Moscow Museum of Modern Art

This museum features 20th- and 21st-century art. The website provides information about the permanent collection and visiting exhibits. The museum also hosts an English-language lecture series.

Spanish

Museo Art Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires

MALBA focuses on Latin American artists as well as internationally acclaimed artists. The website includes great descriptions and pictures of current exhibitions, extensive online collections, and interactive videos.

Museo Guggenheim Bilbao

This branch of the Guggenheim museum in Spain features modern and contemporary art. The collection is available to view online, and there is also extensive information about current, future, and past exhibitions.

Museo Nacional de Antropología

This museum displays Mexico’s rich archaeological and ethnographic history. Some of the collection is available online, searchable by ethnic group or time period. The website also features cultural information about Mexico.

Museo del Prado

This museum in Madrid is renowned for its classical works by artists such as Goya and Velázquez. Masterpieces of their collection are available to explore online. There’s also information about current exhibits and research and educational materials.

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Digital Projects – Media Resources 3

Welcome to the third installment of our media resources series! This post is a sampling of digital projects, useful for research or just general browsing, available in some of Reed’s supported languages.

Arabic

Manar Al-Athar

Manar Al-Athar is a collection of digital media of archaeological and historical sites from the Middle East. The images are available to students, teachers, and researchers under a Creative Commons license. The collection is expanding and is searchable through a bilingual English-Arabic website.

Arabic Collections Online

Arabic Collections Online is the home of digitized, public domain, Arabic-language texts held at New York University and other institutions and sponsored by NYU Abu Dhabi. Digitized works can be viewed online or downloaded as pdfs. The website is bilingual English-Arabic and also includes links to other digital collections of Arabic-language materials.

Mandarin

Chinese Posters

This rich online exhibition of Chinese propaganda posters, dating from 1925 to the late twentieth century, mostly come from a private Dutch collection and the International Institute of Social History. You can browse posters by time period or by theme. Posters include key information, translations, and explanations of the context in which posters were produced.

Russian

Mapping Petersburg

This is a collection of narratives of the city of St. Petersburg, including extensive information on Andrey Bely’s Petersburg.

Spanish

Cantar de mio cid

This online exploration of Cantar de mio cid from the University of Texas Austin provides many different ways to interact with the work: text, manuscript images, audio, and commentary. It’s a good example of how digital formats can provide access to manuscripts and literary works. Watch out! The opening animation includes sound!

Instituto Cervantes

The Instituto Cervantes promotes Spanish language and culture throughout the world. The website includes tools for teaching and learning Spanish, including the Catálogo de voces hispánicas, a collection of videos of speakers of Spanish dialects with explanations of differences between dialects. The cultural section provides information about Spanish cultural resources and events around the world.

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News – Media Resources 1

Welcome to the first installment of our media resources series! This post features news sources in the six Reed-supported languages. 

 

Arabic-language:

Al Jazeera

This international Doha-based news agency is the largest Arabic-language news outlet in the world. Al Jazeera publishes content in many languages, including English, and presents news across media.

7iber

7iber is an online magazine and blog from Jordan dedicated to exploring complex issues and providing access to information in the region. Select stories are also available in English

Mandarin-language:

China Daily

China Daily is primarily meant for non-Chinese readers, both expats living in China and foreign markets. It’s available online in both English and Chinese and is published in several overseas versions

WeChat

WeChat is a popular Chinese messaging app with public accounts on a variety of topics. The app is available for mac, Windows, iOS and Android. The following public accounts are recommended:

  • Dandu (search dandureading) – contemporary Chinese literature and book recommendations
  • Oriental History Commentary (search ohistory) – articles and book excerpts on the history of the Far East
  • Sijiu Cheng (search sijuicheng2014) – accounts of experiences and current events in Beijing started by university students from Beijing

French-language:

Le Monde

Le Monde is a major French newspaper based in Paris. Because it’s widely read, Le Monde is a good choice for getting an introduction into news and global events from a French centrist perspective. It’s a good choice for French learners interested in understanding the French view of global events.

Les Inrocks

This weekly cultural magazine is a great source for reading about culture in French. The subject matter of its pieces strikes a balance between French and outside media, so whether you want to read about French musicians or just want to read a recap of the latest Game of Thrones episode in French, Les Inrocks is perfect.

German-language:

Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (F.A.Z.)

This daily newspaper, published in Frankfurt, has a strong international presence. It is centrist compared to other German newspapers with wide circulation.

Russian-language:

Аргументы и факты (Argumenty i fakty)

This Moscow-based newspaper centers its coverage on Moscow and Russia. The спецлпоекты section, with well-designed, interactive stories, might be especially interesting to Russian language learners.

Spanish-language:

El Mundo

This major Spanish newspaper is split between news in Spain and the news of the world. It is often cited as expressing the views of the center-right with liberal tones. It is a popular online newspaper with international readers.

Página12

This is Argentina’s far left newspaper. It offers both economic and political news as well as daily cartoons, stories about psychology, etc.

El Universal

This Mexican newspaper covers a wide range of national issues while also featuring stories on popular culture

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Kanopy: free access to award-winning films

I’m a senior at Reed, and I have one recommendation for you during your time here — visit Kanopystreaming.com. This is really one of the hidden secrets of Reed that will change your life when you find out about it. I didn’t discover Kanopy until this year and I am sad to have missed so many opportunities to watch films in foreign languages for free. Kanopy offers films in 28 languages and almost all films have English subtitles available. This is one of the best features and sets Kanopy apart from most other streaming sites.

To use Kanopy on or off campus, just add Reed College as your institution. Next, you can customize Kanopy by creating an account, which allows you to access features like creating playlists. Or you can just watch the films without logging in.

We are privileged that all members of the Reed community have free access through the institutional subscription. Kanopy is only available through libraries and academic universities. Check it out today and you’ll see a hugely diverse collection of award-winning films! The first Arabic movie I watched on Kanopy turned out to be one of the best movies I’ve seen all year. Take a look, or log onto the site to find your next favorite movie!

Tickling Giants: Uniting Egypt Through Laughter in Tumultuous Times

This documentary follows the rise and fall of Egyptian talk show host Bassam Youssef, the Jon Stewart of Egypt. But where Jon Stewart has 2 million views per episode, Youssef typically has 30 million. The film depicts the consequences of political comedy in a country where retribution is swift and harsh for any journalist who criticizes the government. When free speech is not a guarantee, people need space to laugh and relieve their fears. Youssef becomes a necessary and beloved outlet for an entire country of people under repressive rule. He faces threats, protests and lawsuits in his quest to keep comedy alive in Egypt. This movie is funny, emotional and informational about recent Egyptian politics since the 2011 revolution.

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Practise German on the go!

So you want to practice your German, but you’re always busy. Maybe your regular coursework takes up too much time or you’re not currently enrolled in a German class and are scared of losing the language; maybe you can’t devote precious hours to reading or even watching TV in order to sustain your skills. What do you do? Enter the German language podcast to the rescue! The Deutsche Welle site is a great place to find and download podcasts on a variety of topics that you can listen to at the gym, in the car, or during your other unproductive errand-time. They run podcasts that stream both free from iTunes or an RSS feed.

Deutsche Welle Podcasts (http://www.dw.com/en/media-center/podcasts/s-100977)

FOR BEGINNERS:

If you want something more instructive, check out their course Warum nicht? which guides you in English as well in German. There are four parts, each with 26 episodes about 12 minutes long. The course takes you through many different types of German media while also incorporating German culture. It can get a little pedantic but it is incredibly helpful when you are coming from a background with little to no previous German experience.

The Mission Berlin series also takes place in English and in German and follows various characters around the city as they try to solve crimes. It’s a fun follow-along story that will get you more familiar with the language without being completely immersive or overwhelming if you don’t have a lot of experience in German.

FOR INTERMEDIATES:

The series Wieso Nicht? is the next level up from Warum Nicht? and is completely in German. It is full of short (approx. 10 minutes long) stories about life in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The pacing is slower than some of their other entirely German-language podcasts and so it is easy to follow along if you’re still trying to become more comfortable in an immersed German situation. The stories are often funny and fit perfectly in that 10 minute gap as you walk to your next class!

FOR ADVANCED GERMAN SPEAKERS:

Most of the website is dedicated to space for the 20+ podcasts dealing with a huge variety of topics aimed at a German audience. The same podcasts are also available entirely in English, just in case! Just switch which language you’re viewing the webpage in to access either. Some of the podcasts include a video component but you are still able to just listen to them if you don’t have the time. There is definitely something for everyone on this website, so if you’ve been looking for a new podcast to start, this is a great place to find one!

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恨海 ‘The Sea of Regret’

This novel was written by Wú Jiǎnrén in 1906. In ten chapters, the reader follows the story of two couples and their families as they head to Shanghai to escape the turmoil during the Boxer Rebellion in 1900. This would be recommended for intermediate to advanced learners, but the translated version also provides insight into the discussion around family, marriage, and the status of women at the time. 

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12 Contemporary German Films

Watching full-length films in German is one of the best ways to practice your language skills while also having fun. German cinema, dating back to classics like “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari” (1929), is full of incredibly beautiful films. What’s sometimes harder to find are films released within our lifetimes, so here are 12 Contemporary German Films (in alphabetic order) from several genres, all of which are available at the Reed Instructional Media Center.

“Barbara” (2012): Barbara, an East German doctor, is sent to work in a small town hospital as punishment for requesting to leave the country. While planning an escape to the West, she discovers she has reasons to stay. A personal and touching drama, Barbara is also a vignette of life in East Germany.

“Bella Martha” / “Mostly Martha” (2001): A touching German romantic comedy about Martha, a woman trying to balance her passion as a chef with the difficulties of caring for her stubborn niece. Martha herself is as fiery and stubborn as her niece, and they often butt heads, but the introduction of a friendly, good-looking Italian chef seems to have an effect on their relationship.

“Das Experiment” / “The Experiment” (2001): Loosely based on the Stanford prison experiment, Das Experiment imagines the psychological toll on a group of people randomly assigned roles as “prisoners” or “guards”. Moritz Bleibtreu, one of Germany’s most famous actors, stars in this dark thriller.

“Das Leben der Anderen” / “The Lives of Others” (2006): Possibly the most acclaimed modern film to come out of Germany, Das Leben der Anderen is about  East German surveillance during the Cold War. A Stasi officer, listening in on a young couple, becomes fascinated with their lives. The film has won numerous awards for its dramatic brilliance and accurate display of the historical atmosphere, and is a must-see.

“Der Untergang” / “Downfall” (2004): An epic drama about the final days of the Nazi regime, Der Untergang is told from the perspective of Traudl Junge, Hitler’s personal secretary. The film dramatises the events that lead up to Hitler’s downfall, while dealing with themes of responsibility and guilt.

“Fack ju Göhte” (2013): The German equivalent of a Jack Black film, Fack ju Göhte is about a former bank robber who mistakenly gets hired as a substitute teacher. Although you’ll probably never see this film on a syllabus, it’s universally well-known in Germany as one of the funniest and stupidest films of our generation.

“Good Bye, Lenin” (2001): Set during the Reunification of West and East Germany, Alex has to protect his mother, who awoke from a coma to a brand new world. He reconstructs a mini-GDR in her apartment, but the deception goes too far and he starts to blur reality and fiction. An excellent watch for those interested in post-unification German culture, history, and comedy!  

“Herr Lehmann” / “Berlin Blues” (2003): Just before the German reunification, Herr Lehmann introduces us to Frank Lehmann, a twenty-something bartender living lazily in West Berlin. When his parents come to visit, his depressingly boring life is upset, and he has to reevaluate his lifestyle. If you’re looking for an enjoyable and fun film, this isn’t it, but it’s a great period piece full of clever dialogue.

“Lola Rennt” / “Run Lola Run” (1998): Lola is thrust into a dangerous situation by her boyfriend, Manni, and has twenty minutes to collect 100,000 deutsche Marks, and so she runs…and runs…and runs. The rest can only be described as an MTV-inspired thriller with as many experimental techniques as you can hope to cram in an 80-minute film. A cult classic action-thriller with a plot and characters so energetic, you’ll be breathless yourself by the end.

“Sophie Scholl: Die letzten Tagen” (2005): Based on a true story, this epic drama recreates the final days of Sophie and her brother, two members of an underground resistance group in Nazi Germany called the “Weiße Rose”. Although the film is tragic and may leave you weeping, it’s narratively excellent and cinematographically beautiful.

“Türkisch für Anfänger” (2012): One of the more ridiculous suggestions on this list, this film is essentially a goofy spin-off of “Lost”. Four teenagers get stranded on a beautiful desert island and have to put aside their caricaturised differences and get along. Full of politically-incorrect stereotypes and language, Türkisch für Anfänger will set you up perfectly for a trip to Germany.

“Vincent will Meer” / “Vincent Wants to Sea” (2010): A young man with Tourette’s wants nothing more than to escape his mental institution and take a trip to Italy. With the help of Marie, a woman with an eating disorder, the two break out and take a road trip full of misadventures.

 

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German Comedy

If you’re getting bored of German grammar and vocabulary exercises, try spicing up your learning with some comedy! Here are seven of Germany’s funniest sketch series and cartoon strips. (Please note that some content may be inappropriate.)

  • Knallerfrauen and Ladykracher:  Two of Germany’s funniest short, SNL/Monty Python-sketch style episodes, Knallerfrauen features Martina Hill, a young German woman who runs into troubles with family, dating, and other irreverent topics; Ladykracher is about a somewhat oblivious and socially-awkward woman.
  • Kesslers Knigge: A short sketch series, these videos take the from of “10 Dinge, die Sie nicht tun sollten, wenn…” (“10 Things You Shouldn’t Do, If…”). Sketches cover a wide variety of topics, from things you shouldn’t do in a museum, to things you shouldn’t do at a burial.
  • Ruthe.de  and NICHTLUSTIG  are popular comedy websites, featuring cartoons in the style of “Far Side”, and TV commercial parody videos. Although the humor can be advanced, as it features German sarcasm, irony, and sometimes obscure references, most jokes are accessible through context.
  • ApoRed and Julien Bam: Two of Germany’s most famous YouTubers, ApoRed and Julien Bam make parody videos and songs, vlogs, and prank sketches. Although aimed more toward teens, some videos are quite funny.