Luise Ullrich Movies

This Swiss/German coproduction is set in a girl's reform school. Headmistress Barbara Rutting feels uniquely qualified to divert teenaged streetwalker Leni von Friel from her tawdry lifestyle; before being hired by the school, Barbara had herself been a prostitute. When Leni escapes from the school, Barbara goes after her. On the street, she confronts her ex-pimp, who threatens to reveal Barbara's past if she interferes in Leni's "training". Barbara kills the pimp and is sent to prison--and it is this sacrifice which finally earns her the respect of the chastened Leni. Also known as Shadows Grow Longer, Defiant Daughters was originally released as Die Schatten Werden Laenger. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

This film is the story of a mother who helps her three sons with their problems. Her youngest suffers from the trials of boyhood, the middle son moons over his first love, and the eldest seeks mom's advice when plagued by marital problems. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi

In this German comedy, a man leaves his wife to be with his mistress, a singer. Unfortunately, like the dog in the manger, he gets jealous when another man begins courting his ex-wife. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

Also known as Promise Me Nothing, this labyrinthine drama was adapted from a long-running stage play by Thea von Harbou of Metropolis and Dr. Mabuse fame. Viktor de Kowa stars as impoverished artist Martin Pratt, who is so preoccupied by his work that he fails to notice that his wife Monika (Luise Ullrich) is literally starving to death. Making matters worse, Martin cares nothing for money, refusing to sell his paintings because he feels they aren't yet good enough for public consumption. In desperation, Monika pretends that Martin's painting were completed by her, thereby allowing her to peddle them on her own. Soon, of course, Monika is being hailed as the foremost artistic genius of the age -- while Martin, seething with jealousy but too proud to expose his wife as a fraud, retreats further and further into himself. Eventually, Monika's conscience gets the better of her, and she confesses that the paintings were the handiwork of her husband. Rather amazingly, this leads to a happy ending for both hero and heroine, indicating that anything's possible in the movies. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Luise Ullrich plays a dual role in the German Schatten der Vergengenheit (Shadows of the Past). Falsely accused of murder, café violinist Helene Gail (Ullrich) is shipped off to prison. Four years later she is released for good behavior but is unable to find work due to her questionable past. It so happens that Helene has a twin sister named Betty (also Ullrich), a popular music-hall entertainer. When Betty is accidentally drowned, Helene is able to take her place and start her life anew. Alas, she will never be free of her past so long as her trail is dogged by two gangsters, who know her secret and intend to capitalize upon it. Tension mounts steadily until the very last moment in the film, which will take everyone -- even those subliminally expecting it -- by surprise. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In this costume drama, a courageous Tyrolean fights to keep Napoleon from conquering his German homeland. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

Liebelei is one of the earliest of the cinematic banquets directed by German filmmaker Max Ophuls. The film, set in imperial Vienna, concerns the romance between a young girl and a lieutenant. A powerful baron misreads the lieutenant's ardor, assuming that it is being directed towards his own wife. A duel follows which, no matter how it turns out, will spell tragedy for at least one of the characters we care about. The central character is portrayed by Magda Schneider, the mother of 1960s film star Romy Schneider. Liebelei was filmed in two different languages, German and French; the latter version was titled Une Histoire D'Amour. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi