Christel Bodenstein

That's How DEFA Sounded: Film Music from Babelsberg (2018)

When people think of DEFA, the film heritage of the GDR, they probably don't just think of film images, but also some of the timeless melodies that were created in Babelsberg. ...

Das singende, klingende Bäumchen (2016)

The beautiful, cold-hearted and arrogant Princess is supposed to marry. But she rejects all her suitors with their generous presents, for she only wants one thing: The Singing, Ringing Tree, which only sings for true love. ...

Großes Kino made in DDR (2016)

In 2016, DEFA celebrates its 70th anniversary: the film embarks on a journey into the exciting film history of the GDR. In a comprehensive kaleidoscope, the importance of DEFA productions is illuminated, the relevance of the films as propaganda productions ...

Just Married (1989)

Susanne (17) and Robert (18) want to get married, but because Susanne is still under-aged, she needs parental permission. With twin babies and tight finances, the newlyweds soon feel overwhelmed, and dealing with everything makes them forget the love that ...

Stielke, Heinz, Fifteen... (1987)

Fifteen-year-old Heinz Stielke is a Hitler Youth fanatic who is devastated to learn a hidden truth about his respected father who was a German officer in WWII: He was Jewish. Pushed out of his community after the discovery, young Heinz falls into a tailspi ...

How Do You Feed A Donkey? (1974)

Due to his profession, Fred, an easy-going and charming long-haul truck-driver, sees a lot of the world. Along his routes he enjoys the company of a lot of girlfriends who sweeten his spare time. One day, he suffers an accident in Prague which puts his co- ...

Sieben Tage (1973)

No Cheating, Darling (1973)

For some time now, the residents of the placid little village of Sonnenthal talk only about one topic: Football! The ambitious mayor wants to promote the Sonnenthal team to the district league at any price because this success would also boost his own popu ...

Aus dem Leben eines Taugenichts (1973)

Screen adaptation of Eichendorff's famous novella. A penniless drifter roams the land with his violin and preferably sings his songs to beautiful women. Two of his female admirers get him employed as a gardener at a castle. Yet he doesn't settle down for l ...

The Little Prince (1972)

Adaptation of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's novella for East German television, produced in 1965/66, not shown until 1972. ...

Der große Ferienscheck (1972)

Hans Richter and his wife Eva () are the parents of four children. When the family received a vacation cheque, they were delighted and a long-cherished wish came true. But Hans Richter's mood after the vacation is not what it should be after a vacation. So ...

Im Himmel ist doch Jahrmarkt (1969)

Five young, pretty female athletes are training for an international skydiving contest. From heaven they basically fall straight into the arms of five charming young men. Their coach is less than thrilled about the flirtation and urges his athletes to conc ...

Treffpunkt Genf (1968)

The East German scientist Professor Gerlach has made a significant discovery with his research into how a new, even stronger pesticide can be protected against ineffectiveness through hydrolysis. This fact has not gone unnoticed by other interested nations ...

Das Mädchen an der Orga Privat (1967)

In 1928 Berlin, 19-year-old stenotypist Erna Halbe lands a prized typing job at Orga Privat. Thrust into the soul-killing monotony of a sprawling corporate office, she rallies her fellow typists to challenge unjust working conditions. Amid economic tremors ...

When You’re Grown Up, Dear Adam (1966)

Adam receives a flashlight with special powers: every liar it shines on flies into the air. Production was cancelled in 1965/66 due to the film's political content. Only in 1989/90 could the director reconstruct the film, where missing sounds and images ar ...

Ohne Paß in fremden Betten (1965)

Czech tourist Jelinek decides to take a ride on the "Ferris wheel" in Berlin, and as a result he lags behind the train and is left without his belongings and documents. ...

Much Ado About Nothing (1964)

Young lovers Hero and Claudio, soon to wed, conspire to get verbal sparring partners and confirmed singles Benedick and Beatrice to wed as well. ...

Es geht nicht ohne Liebe (1963)

Irene Klaussen, a brilliant, tomboyish Berlin student, falls for new classmate Peter Lemke. To prove herself, she follows him, first to a school dance in a borrowed gown, then to a year's stint on a remote oil‐plant construction in Granow. Ostracized at ...

Chronicle of a Summer (1963)

In the late fifties a large industrial complex was built near Schwedt, in the GDR. ...

Minna von Barnhelm oder Das Soldatenglück (1962)

This film takes place during the Seven Years' War. The Prussian Major von Tellheim has become engaged to the Saxon noblewoman Minna von Barnhelm. After the war, the King - in an unwarranted move - deprives the major of his honor. Von Tellheim becomes impov ...

Midnight Revue (1962)

Despite the fact that production manager Kruse doesn't have the actors or the crew for the job, he recklessly boasts that he could direct a revue film. To prevent him losing face, Kruse brings together four people - a dramaturg, a composer, a writer and an ...

Italienisches Capriccio (1961)

Biography of the comic poet Carlo Goldoni (1707-1793). ...

Ein Sommertag macht keine Liebe (1961)

During a weekend spent on the island Hiddensee, the snobbish high school student Jan, who has just been expelled from school, meets Christine. Christine is impressed with his bragging attitude although he just uses it to hide his insecurity and his remorse ...

New Year’s Eve Punch (1960)

After their successful May party, now the Lehmann family want to throw a New Year's Eve part with punch. Wilhelm's sons Franz and Paul are brigade leaders at a chemical factory. One of their brigades consists largely of fanatics of high culture, while the ...

The Punch Bowl (1959)

It is the 65th birthday of Wilhelm Lehmann, foreman of a chemical company. All members of the large family are expected. Preparations are also being made in the company: Wilhelm is to be awarded the »Labor banner« and, as every year, the sons are respons ...

Kapitäne bleiben an Bord (1959)

Kurt Kars, the young, enthusiastic but rather inexperienced captain of a fishing vessel, lets his ambition drive him into a risky venture. According to a newspaper report, there are excellent fishing grounds in the Arctic Ocean. Against the orders of the c ...

Wenn die Nacht kein Ende nimmt (1959)

The 17-year-old commercial student Doris, a young, blameless girl, lives with her relatives without parents. It is the nerve-wracking circumstances that make her very unhappy - the dream and longing for a fulfilled life seems far away. Then she meets a you ...

Klotz am Bein (1958)

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 ele ...

Crime Scene: Berlin (1958)

Rudi Prange is released from prison for good behavior. He gets a job in a transport unit but gets involuntarily involved in a smuggling business by a colleague. When two police officers are gun down Rudi becomes the main suspect. ...

The Singing Ringing Tree (1957)

A brave prince must seek the fabled singing, ringing tree in order to win the heart of a beautiful princess. ...

The Captain from Cologne (1956)

Albert Hauptmann is an out of work waiter in Cologne who is often confused with a former Captain of the Nazi Army. Albert uses this to his advantage and becomes the Director of the Montan Corporation, and a member of the West German Parliament. Herr Karjan ...

The Brave Little Tailor (1956)

When Prince Vain got his shirt fixed, he proclaims that he had slain two lizards in front of the tailor's house - "two in one strike". When the tailor swats seven flies at once, he sows himself a banner saying "seven in one strike", and together with his b ...