Paul R. Henker

In 1955, Michael Vierkant, a Jew who had emigrated during the Nazi era, returns from abroad to the Federal Republic of Germany to obtain the conviction of Korn, the former informer responsible for the murder of his sister. Korn is back in office; Michael's efforts remain unsuccessful. There is a direct confrontation between the two, and Michael shoots Korn in self-defense. He flees and is hidden by the young, reclusive artist Marie Jäger, but is then caught by the police and charged with premeditated murder. The case is taken out of the hands of the criminal investigation department by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, which constructs an act of political revenge on behalf of the communists. Michael manages to escape from prison. Marie and her friends organize a press conference at which Michael reveals the connections. The trial is postponed.

This film is the second of a two-part historical and biographical portrait of the communist politician and anti-fascist Ernst Thälmann. Autumn, 1918: Somewhere on Germany’s western front, Ernst Thälmann, age twenty-four, is calling on his fellow soldiers to put down their guns and join him in the communist struggle at home. When Hamburg’s Police Commissioner blocks a much-needed food shipment to the workers of Petrograd, Ernst battles to see it allowed through. Until his murder on August 18, 1944, Ernst remained true to his political convictions in the face of many setbacks.

In 1523, young Thomas Müntzer arrives with his wife Ottilie in the Thuringian village Allstedt to assume the rectorate. As a follower of Luther′s teachings, he finds in the Bible not only reasons for clerical, but also for secular reforms. But when Luther turns away from the rural population after a discord with Müntzer, it is Müntzer who becomes the peoples′ spokesman. He is forced to go to Southern Germany, where he convenes with revolting farmers. But his way leads him back to Thuringia. In 1525, he and Heinrich Pfeiffer form the centre of the Thuringian peasant uprising in Mühlhausen, but their success is diminished by the fact that peasants and craftsmen don′t seem to be able to work together. In Frankenhausen, Müntzer becomes the leader of a peasants′ army that is set to fighting the ruler′s army – and sustains a devastating loss. Müntzer is arrested and sentenced to death by decapitation for his insurgency.

17-year-old Traudel flees the orphanage she has to live in, in order to venture to Berlin.

Two UFA employees travel by car from West Berlin to Potsdam's Sanssouci Palace together with Ministerial Director Schimmelpfennig to persuade Frederick II, who haunts the palace, to collaborate on a new film about himself. The daily newspaper Die Welt had already written about the fact that at the founding meeting of the new UFA, its director pointed out under the motto: "The old spirit lives" that the monumental film Fridericus Rex - Eleventh Part was a first contribution to the ideological armament of the Free World.

After 1945, land reform forces Old Kraske to become an agricultural worker, but he continues to work on his own, flatly refusing to join any collective farming activities. He desperately wants a large-scale farm like Kimpel's in order to pass it on to his adored grandson, Tinko. When Kraske's son Ernst returns from a POW camp and gives his support to the new communal project, tensions arise within the family and little Tinko is caught in the middle.

In the Werra valley near the border is one of the five soda factories of the GDR that once belonged to the powerful Solvay group. After the war, they moved the headquarters from Berneburg to Frankfurt, but some people loyal to the groups bosses remained to sabotage the production in the now nationally owned factory.

Berlin 1952, seven years after WWII. Four women are looking for a good man and happiness in the divided city. Their destinies are loosely connected through one person: the West Berlin dandy and womanizer, Conny.

No description available.

Lifelong hard work for the count makes the servant Anton a cripple. Everybody calls him Crooked Anton. When, after the end of the war, the land of the count gets divided amongst the farmers, Anton receives a piece and hopes to be able to work freely. But an old debt and intrigue keep Anton and his family from finding peace. The farmers of the village begin to discover their own power when Annegret, Anton's daughter, leaves. Is a new beginning possible for Anton? This film paints an impressive panorama of the development of a minor village in Mecklenburg from the end of the war to the uprising of 17 June 1953.

In a small town, a brigade is working on the construction of a new cultural center. Gerhard loves Karin, the daughter of brigadier Franz, who is not thrilled with the prospective son-in-law. Under the influence of his colleague "Boxer", who wants to go to a big city with him, Gerhard neglects his crane operator course, his work and ultimately Karin too. The failed crane test infuriates him and turns him into a rioter. After quarrels on the construction site, Franz is found unconscious on the crane at night. Gerhard comes under suspicion, but the accident was the fault of "Boxer". When he tries to escape, Gerhard, who has come to his senses, is able to hold him back. Remorseful, they go to the police together. Karin is also reconciled and the wedding is to take place in the finished Kulturhaus.

A car factory in the GDR. During a test ride there is a major accident. One driver is dead, another is seriously injured. The investigation reveals: sabotage.

Having been happily married for ten years, Gerda Wagner, devoted mother and housewife, suddenly gets it into her head that she would like a career as a pop star. She had singing lessons in the past and her voice is still beautiful. A chance meeting with the idolized Italian singer Fabiani, revives her stage fever - much to the annoyance of her husband Gustl Wagner, head of the records section at a department store.

East German propaganda film about an American army base trying to take away land from a West German village.

DEFA crime film about the smuggling of PVC across the (still open) border from East to West Berlin.

The construction of five houses for a workers' housing cooperative has been delayed due to a shortage of workers. It is winter and it is foreseeable that the houses will be completed in the fall at the latest. However, this takes too long for the young electrician Gustav. He is frustrated and wants to finally live within his own four walls. So far, he and his wife Christl, a sales clerk, have been subletting from his parents-in-law. One day, he receives a visit from his Aunt Minne, who informs him that he has inherited an apartment building worth 12,000 marks from his deceased Aunt Erna. He rejoices, as a house is even better than an apartment and he no longer needs to be a member of the building cooperative. The house turns out to be a dilapidated old building with no furniture and no water or electricity. Christl refuses to move into the building and begs Gustav to turn down the inheritance.

Alwin Schmieder, his brother August and friend Otto were the only ones in the village to refuse to join the LPG. They continue to toil on their own, and everything in the Schmieder household has gone haywire since Alwin became a widower. At least he needs a wife, but he doesn't like the applicants for Alwin's marriage advertisements. He rejects Barbara, his son Karl's girlfriend, without knowing her - because she is from the city. But suddenly there is movement in the Schmieders' lives. August wants to marry the agronomist Karoline and move in with her in the neighboring village. Barbara, who sneaks into the house on a pretext, wins Alwin's sympathy and he asks Karl to marry her. When it turns out that the young people have set him up, he is furious. And last but not least, Otto joins the LPG. Alwin is the last to see the light.

Research results of enormous value are stolen from the experimental laboratory of a chemical company in the fictitious town of Bärenfurt in the GDR and seized at the Berlin sector border. The trail leads to the agent "Haas" at the Bärenfurt municipal theater. Captain Jentsch is at the theater to uncover his identity and arrest him. A murder takes place during the "Fiesco" premiere. Many people are suspects, including the head of the theater, Born, who is engaged to the actress Vera and has a conspicuously apolitical attitude. It is no easy task for the security officers to distinguish between reality and appearance in this milieu. Through precise work, they succeed in unmasking the perpetrator and arresting him after a chase through the theater.

The soccer team of the company sports association "BSG Hartenfels" is going downhill. New training methods - based on scientific findings - are needed, says Paul Schmidt. But he runs up against the star striker Wieland, whose friends naturally stick by him. So water sportswoman Ruth, deputy chairwoman of the BSG, decides to use female cunning to change the situation for the better. She and her friends Lilo and Uschi want to "work" the unruly ones. In the end, there is indeed a victory - on the sports field - and two happy couples.

In 1952, former farmhand Erich Kattner arrives in a Mecklenburg village from West Germany to take on a new farming job, which he had originally planned to do together with his wife. She has died shortly beforehand, and so he finds himself alone with the almost unmanageable work. His predecessor has capitulated, the new house and barn are only half-finished, tree stumps still have to be cleared in the fields and much more besides. He is skeptical of outside help. He asks Thekla, the maid of the richest farmer, whom he met on his first day in the village, to start working for him, but she refuses. When she does start working on Erich's farm after an approach from her "master", he only sees her as a work partner.