German Culture House launches summer films program

A week-long German creative film festival is scheduled this month at the German Cultural House (GCH) as part of its program for July, August and September. It will begin on the10th of August and run until the18th at the center in Sana'a. 

Eight short films will be presented during the first week, mostly from Oscar-winner director Pepe Danquart such as "come, come to the city, the lindentrees are so green today. Let's go to the city, the city," so goes the song in "Defa Disco Film-Berlin."

The tremendous appeal that draws young and old, German and international visitors is unbroken. Berlin is home to artists who have critically explored their urban surrounding in the most diverse ways. These short films offer a brief look to these artistic themes and stylistic varieties, as well as amplify the desire to breathe some Berlin air.

In the second day of the film program, the comedic 10-minute short film named Mr. Lehman (Herr Lehmann) directed by Leander Haussmann will be presented. Herr Lehmann is a German novel by Sven Regener, published in 2001, adapted for the screen in 2003. It has been translated into English by John Brownjohn under the title Berlin Blues.

The book has sold more than 1 million copies in German and Regener received the Deutscher Filmpreis in gold for the screenplay. The story tells of the life of Frank Lehmann in Berlin in 1989. Regener's prequel Neue Vahr Süd (published in 2004) tells of Frank Lehmann’s life in the year 1980, especially his time in the Bundeswehr (German army).

In the third day, 92-minute film called (Pool of Princesses, 2007) and directed by Bettina Blümer will be show to the audiences. It is the best film of Blümer’s documentary Prinzessinnenbad, which trails three precocious girls through the streets and parks of Berlin. 

The film begins at the Prinzenbad, an open-air public pool in the heart of the multicultural Kreuzberg district. There we meet protagonists Klara, Tanutscha and Mira, three foul-mouthed but not unsympathetic 15 year-olds. The girls have grown up fast and largely fatherless and their mothers act like kids themselves (Klara’s mom: “We only have two rules here: no heroin and don’t get pregnant”). Even after 92 minutes one yearns for more about the characters in this witty and dynamic film.

In the fourth day, the 89-minute drama movie named (alaska.de) and directed by Esther Gronenborn will be presented on the show. It talks about Sabine is the 16-year-old daughter of divorced parents; when her mother grows tired of looking after her, Sabine is sent to live with her father in a dangerous section of East Berlin. 

Sabine gets to know Eddie (Frank Droese), who washes windows in the apartment block where Sabine and her father live; Eddie is friendly with Micha (Toni Blume), a teenage delinquent who supports himself as a petty criminal and tries to encourage Eddie to join him.  Eddie has qualms about becoming an outlaw, but the decision is made for him when a thug attacks Micha, and Eddie comes to his rescue, accidentally killing the assailant.

Eddie, Micha, and Sabine are now faced with difficult decisions about what to do and who is to blame. “Alaska.de is the first dramatic feature from writer and director Gronenborn, who previously distinguished herself in documentaries,” according to the New York Times. 

In the fifth day, the GCH will present David Safier’s film (Berlin, Berlin). Then the Netto (2005) film directed by Robert Thalheim will be presented during the film week activities of the GCH. The film tells the story of father-son relationship. Marcel is an east German electrician who couldn’t cope with the difficulties of market economics after the German reunification and who spends his day in between a Vietnamese snack bar and his shabby apartment. 

When his son Sebastian who lived the last three years with his mother returns for a place to stay his life is given new direction. Filmed on a shoestring budget for a university assignment this movie makes you laugh where you should cry, depicting the hardships of those who where the losers of the German reunification.

In the last day of the film week at 6:45 pm, they will present the film of Der Himmel über Berlin (Wings of Desire, 1987) directed by Wim Wenders.

The film tells that Damiel (Bruno Ganz) and Cassiel (Otto Sander) are two angels living in Berlin whose mission is to “assemble, testify and preserve” reality. They keep documenting the happenings in the city, going through the minds of its citizens in the process. Damiel meets a trapeze artist (Solveig Dommartin) and falls in love with her. After the suggestion from an ex-angel Peter Falk (as himself), he decides to shed his wings. Seemingly plotless and enigmatic, Wings of Desire makes a lasting impact on the viewers who watch it using their heart rather than their brains.

Wings of Desire film is more than a yearning for preservation of humanity. Strongly recommended for anyone who loves mankind, reality and life. 

Related Content

•  Yemen marks International Day for combating drugs
•  Lufthansa awards Yemeni travel agencies, increases flights
•  MTN Yemen hosts 400 orphans
•  Emirates Airlines awards its agents in Yemen
•  Schools for Orphans finish their 1st years
•  Yemen's ‘Refugees United’ football team won its football match against Ahly Sana'a
•  Yemeni students learn about refugee issues
•  MTN launches social service, environmental campaigns
•  Special Olympics initiatives to support families, increase volunteers
•  Al-Afif Honors the Culture Editor of Yemen Observer