Pierre Franckh Movies
- 1999
- NR
A man fighting for justice is faced with a brick wall of prejudice in this political drama from Germany. Michael Rosenzweig (Christoph Gareissen) is a working-class German Jew married to a woman originally from Vietnam (Uyen Van Thi Dao). One day, Michael and his family are attacked by a gang of racist skinheads; Michael flees in the melee that follows, and the gang's leader later turns up dead. Michael is charged with murder in the skinhead's death, and even though he isn't guilty of the crime, Michael's attorney brother (Benjamin Sadler) finds he has his work cut out for him in dealing with the German legal system, dominated by people who traditionally have little sympathy for Jews or Asians. Originally produced for German television, Rosenzweigs Freiheit was a prize-winning entry at the 1999 Hollywood Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Benjamin Sadler, Christoph Gareissen, (more)
Writer-director Romuald Karmaker made a stunning impact with this riveting and gruesome historical drama based on the case of a 1920s German serial killer. Fritz Haarmann (Gotz George) has finally been caught after years of preying on boys and young men. His methods included sodomizing his victims, biting their necks like a vampire, then killing them and cutting their bodies into little pieces. Before Haarmann can stand trial, it must be determined whether or not he is sane. A psychiatrist is assigned to the case. He interviews the killer in a small room at an insane asylum where Haarmann has been temporarily placed. The film's dialogue is taken directly from the original transcripts of the actual interview. During the course of the interview, Haarmann details his murderous methods and gradually reveals his motivation. The title is translated as The Deathmaker. ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide
- 1980
Framed as the memories of a young schoolgirl in a small German village, this realistic, harrowing drama focuses on the lives of the girl and her acquaintances during World War II. She and her friends of varying ages come up against the harsh cruelties of war in several shattering experiences. One of them is almost raped by a bitter and disfigured soldier, another makes a suicide pact with her lover, a professed Nazi is sent home from the war as a paraplegic, while a young man against the Nazis is among those killed in a bombing raid. The inhumanity of war is not confined to physical wounds, violent death, or rape; the drama goes on to paint twisted psyches that have been bent by unholy circumstances. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Erika Pluhar
Screenwriter George Axelrod turns Alfred Hitchcock's classic comedy-thriller into a capering screwball comedy showcase for Cybill Shepherd and Elliot Gould in this style-less remake of The Lady Vanishes. On an express train traveling through pre-World War II Germany, Amanda Kelly (Cybill Shepherd) befriends a cute old nanny, Miss Froy (Angela Lansbury). But when Miss Froy disappears and the rest of the passengers profess no knowledge of the old woman, Amanda and Robert Condon (Elliot Gould -- the only person aboard who will believe her story about the missing woman -- search the train trying to find out what happened to Miss Froy. In the meantime, they uncover an insidious German plot and fall in love. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elliott Gould, Cybill Shepherd, (more)
- 1969
Dr. Peter Bach (Peter Alexander) is sent to a city school when his small village school burns down. The liberal and progressive instructor soon gains a large following among the student. He alternately makes enemies among his fellow teachers who resent his methods. Heintje, one of Germany's most popular child singers, plays his nephew Jan. The students play tricks on the teachers but leave Bach alone in this musical that features the singing of both Heintje and Alexander. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Alexander, Hansi Kraus, (more)
