Ottfried Fischer Movies
- 1995
This German animated feature chronicles the punny exploits of the gallant but puny Gallic conqueror Asterix and his clumsy sidekick Obelix. The year is 50 B.C. and Caesar has successfully conquered all of Europe but for one small French village. Within the village is the sorcerer Miraculix who is adept at making magical potions. His most successful brew causes the timid townsfolk to grow courageous and strong before the onslaught of Roman invaders. Though they have consistently beaten the fearsome Latin legionnaires, eventually the Romans succeed in capturing the wily wizard. The conquerors, believing the world is flat, take Miraculix and toss him off the edge of the world. But instead of flying out into a great cosmic void, he ends up in America living with the natives. Asterix, Obelix, and their trusty dog are later sent out to find the magician and bring him home so they can again beat the Romans. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1992
Since the lead comedian in this film has numerous devoted fans in Germany, it was a guaranteed box-office draw in that country. However, foreign reviewers were less inclined to overlook the clumsy writing and gross, even offensive, humor (some of it homophobic) of the movie. The story concerns the efforts of a man (Dieter Hallervorden) who made his living as a comedian in the former East Germany who hopes to repeat his success in the newly reunified Berlin while he looks for his daughter, whom he hasn't seen for years. His former stage partner owns a phony investment firm which is designed to milk the savings from unsuspecting East Germans, and his wife is desperate to get into the comedian's pants. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dieter Hallervorden
- 1992
For Susi, the Saturday before Christmas is the longest day of the year, whatever date it bears. This year, it seems even longer. Not only are the customers who come to her combination gas station and snack bar on the way to or from shopping at the mall unusually difficult to please today, but she is getting hammered at by her mother and her ex-husband as well. The icing on the cake comes when she learns that her lease to operate the store is not being renewed, and she must be out by January 1. Every effort she makes to speak to the mall's (honest) director fails, because his unscrupulous assistant wants it that way. Before long, Susi has accepted the help of a young punk who, hearing of her troubles, is willing to do almost anything to help her out. Since his "almost anything" includes yelling "fire" in the middle of the mall on the busiest shopping day of the year, things get even more hectic. Somewhere along the way, the fortyish divorcee and her disreputable-looking ally discover that they care for one another romantically. This fast-paced German-language comedy reportedly had its viewers rolling in the aisles. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gisela Schneeberger, Dieter Pfaff, (more)
- 1991
The "Trabi" in this comedy's title is a Trabant 601 automobile, a noisy, smelly, two-cylinder farrago of a proper vehicle -- about the only motorized transportation available to residents of the "Socialist Utopia" of East Germany. Now that the wall has fallen and the two Germanys have begun to become unified, a moderately poor Leipzig family has chosen to drive to Italy in their little car on vacation. The mishaps that befall them will be appreciated by anyone familiar with the funny little car, and the actors make the most of it in this German answer to Chevy Chase's "Vacation" films. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Wolfgang Stumph
- 1989
Using two parallel stories, this drama explores the reconstruction of Germany after the Second World war. To what extend did the lessons of the war sink in? In the story, an idealistic cameraman and his more worldly friend, a movie director, have hidden their old equipment until it is safe to use it again. Finally, the war is over, and movies are being made again. The director is willing to make popular entertainments, but his friend the cameraman has a yen to make something more socially relevant, commenting on the evils of the Hitler regime. Curiously, though they come to a parting of the ways, it comes over a woman they have both falling in love with, rather than these weighty issues. In the parallel story, a former soldier in the Reich's armies has been discharged and has returned to his home town and his old job as projectionist at the local movie theater. He and the others experience some difficulty with the occupying forces, especially with the dark-skinned Moroccans, but as soon as they can, they settle down into their old lives - including their prewar prejudices. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gottfried John, Edgar Selge, (more)
- 1989
- PG13
Lena Stolze stars as Sonja, a young Bavarian woman whose submission to an essay contest explores her hometown's affiliation with the Third Reich; as she learns more and more of the truth, she is increasingly victimized by her fellow townspeople, who do not want the scars from their past ripped open anew. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lena Stolze, Monika Baumgartner, (more)
- 1985
Set in the fast and loose ambience of 1947 in West Germany, this story is about Hans Kolp (Frank Roth), an inventive, teenage urban con artist who, like others of his generation and older, takes advantage of an out-of-control black market where almost any Allied goods can be stolen and traded for a tidy profit. Hans learns to speak good English from an American soldier friend, and bored with school -- which is nothing more than a big room in the railroad station with only one teacher to mind all levels of students -- the enterprising Hans starts a gang of petty thieves. Armed with a stolen jeep, the youngsters deal successfully in stolen goods, with Hans doing a good impression of a G.I. Business is so good, in fact, that when someone arrives to encourage Hans to get into the big-time with stolen vehicles and U.S. Army uniforms, the first crisis comes up in the small gang. Members want to back away from that level of dangerous dealing, but Hans wants to go for broke -- a difficult decision that will determine the young con's future.
~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Katja Flint
- 1984
Some jabs at traditional education are taken in this average film about a seventh grade uprising that puts students in charge of the classrooms for awhile, and causes some changes in the way both students and teachers view learning. After the children take over their lessons, the incentive to learn increases in most students -- but the incentive to rebel against authority also goes up in some others. Even though the new interest in learning extends to curiosity about the Nazi years with questions addressed to parents and grandparents at home, the teachers know that the "experiment" cannot continue indefinitely, especially since a few students seem to be going after the esteemed headmaster. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Gahr
