Ben Becker

Based on the exploits of two criminal brothers who eluded the authorities as they embarked on an ever more daring series of complex robberies, director Carlo Rola's tense crime drama follows the brothers as they steal their way through the Berlin of the 1920s. As burglars and safecrackers, Franz and Erich Sass (Ben Becker and Jürgen Vogel) embark on a series of small robberies in order to elude the all-seeing eye of the taxman. As their crimes escalate to include a bank where the Nazi's keep their substantial funds, the authorities quickly begin closing in while Franz and Erich plan their final heist and grand getaway. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Two lonely people find each other without meeting face to face in this romantic drama. Gregor (Ben Becker) is a disc jockey at a radio station who has never quite gotten over his breakup with his former girlfriend; they played together in a rock band, and she's since gone on to stardom, while he's stuck in an on-and-off relationship with co-worker Lily (Catrin Strieback), though they both know there's no future in it. Somewhere else in town, Mai (Isabella Parkinson) is in love with Nick (Nicolas von Wacherbarth), but Nick only has eyes for Mai's roommate Anne (Nele Muller-Stofen), leaving Mai depressed and at odds about what to do. One night, while Gregor is playing a song that has always reminded him of his ex, Mai is listening as she narrowly avoids an auto accident that could have easily taken her life. Mai finds that the song is stuck in her memory, and she sends an e-mail to him asking for details about the tune, claiming she knew the former girlfriend that he mentioned. Soon the two are sending each other messages on a regular basis, and they find themselves wondering if you can fall in love with a person you've never actually met. Frau2 Sucht Happyend is a remake of the South Korean hit Cheob-sok. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Rolf Schuebel makes his directorial debut with this subtly-told true story about one the 1930s' most memorable melodies. Set just prior to WWII, the film focuses on Hungarian beauty Ilona (Erika Marozsan) and her significant other Laszlo Szabo (Joachim Krol), a dapper owner of Budapest's finest restaurant. Though Ilona is known for her prowess on the piano, the two decide to hire a professional as the finishing touch on their classy establishment. They hire Andras (Stefano Dionisi), a taciturn man with a certain mysterious charm. Meanwhile, regular customer and German businessman Hans (Ben Becker) finds himself utterly and completely smitten with the vivacious Ilona. When she spurns his advances, he drunkenly jumps into the Danube. Laszlo manages to rescue him and the three grow to become close friends. At the same time, Andras and Ilona grow to be something more than friends, and -- with the knowledge and approval of Laszlo -- they become lovers. Later, Andras composes a tune dedicated to his new consort and Laszlo quietly arranges for a couple of Austrian record execs to come to the restaurant to listen. Oozing with jaded ennui, the song, sans lyrics, quickly becomes an international success, yet it also seems to cast a dark spell over listeners -- people cannot help but commit suicide. In Hungary alone, 157 people killed themselves in the span of eight weeks. At the same time, the Third Reich marches into Austria. As the film progresses, Hans returns to Budapest, this time as an SS officer. There he offers Laszlo, who is Jewish, and who offers him free passage in exchange for money. This film was screened at the 2000 Berlin Film Festival. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide

Controversial German filmmaker Rosa von Praunheim narrates an unusual story in this dramatic feature film about the once world-famous sexologist Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld. Founder of the world's first gay rights movement, as well as an influential thinker and researcher, Hirschfeld was a homosexual socialist Jew, which made it impossible for him to pursue his career in his native Germany during the 1930s. He was forced into exile in the U.S., where he earned the nickname 'Einstein of Sex.' The film reveals Hirschfeld through events, which involve the major figures in his life such as an unfulfilled love affair with Baron von Teschenberg; the happy years with young Karl Giese; his struggle with major gay opponent, right-wing writer Adolf Brand; and the presence of his guardian angel, the witty and courageous transvestite Dorchen. Interestingly, von Praunheim chooses a rather conventional narrative for this non-conventional subject, employing key episodes to build a provocative biography of a controversial figure. Der Einstein des Sex was screened in competition at the 1999 Locarno International Film Festival. ~ Gönül Dönmez-Colin, All Movie Guide

Harry has grown up amongst the dregs of society and so it is little wonder that he, like Willi, the estranged father he idolizes, ends up in prison; his young girlfriend Marlies is also incarcerated. Following convictions for car theft, the two are fatefully sent to the same coed penitentiary where Willi and his girlfriend reside. With a little wangling, Harry manages to become his father's new cellmate. Marlies is placed with Willi's girl. The four communicate via toilet pipes as do other inmates. Thus the stage is set for a series of funny and earthy conversations that illuminate and educate both generations of crooks. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Olga is a "serpentine dancer" for a traveling vaudeville show in Germany. She is surrounded by people with all sorts of attitudes about what effect the advent of motion pictures will have on live theatricals. In the story, the son of a photographer, is hired to travel with the little troupe, falls in love with the mute young dancer, and leaves the troupe along with her. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide

In this mild drama, a Serbian girl from Yugoslavia (Mirjana Jokovic) has traveled into Germany with visions of a freer, more romance-filled life. Along the way she encounters all sorts of people who are as unsettled as she and confirms for herself that this cannot be her home, and that her native land -- whatever its faults -- is just the place she really wants to be. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide

In a provincial town in West Germany, the director of the local art society is preparing to put on an exhibit of paintings. The patrons of the society are all upstanding local businessmen and members of the middle class, of not very refined tastes, but they are all a-dither about the painting in the "Capitalist Realism" exhibit which is clearly insulting to a local banker. Nonetheless, in this comedy they all exert themselves to be polite to the painter and his boyfriend. The film is adapted from the play by Botho Strauss. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide