7.7

The Reader

2007, USA, Germany

• Actors: Kate Winslet, Ralph Fiennes, David Kross, Lena Olin, Bruno Ganz, Jeanette Hain, Susanne Lothar, Alissa Wilms, Florian Bartholomäi, Friederike Becht, Matthias Habich, Frieder Venus, Marie-Anne Fliegel, Hendrik Arnst, Rainer Sellien, Torsten Michaelis, Moritz Grove, Joachim Tomaschewsky, Barbara Philipp, Hans Hohlbein, Jürgen Tarrach, Kirsten Block, Vijessna Ferkic, Vanessa Berthold, Benjamin Trinks, Fritz Roth, Hannah Herzsprung, Jacqueline Macaulay, Volker Bruch, Karoline Herfurth
• Genre: Drama, Romance
• Director(s): Stephen Daldry
• Available languages:
  • English English.

THE READER opens in WWII Germany when teenager Michael Berg becomes ill and is helped home by Hanna, a stranger twice his age. Michael recovers from scarlet fever and seeks out Hanna to thank her. The two are quickly drawn into a passionate but secretive affair. Michael discovers that Hanna loves being read to and their physical relationship deepens. Hanna is enthralled as Michael reads to her from "The Odyssey," "Huck Finn" and "The Lady with the Little Dog." Despite their intense bond, Hanna mysteriously disappears one day and Michael is left confused and heartbroken. Eight years later, while Michael is a law student observing the Nazi war crime trials, he is stunned to find Hanna back in his life - this time as a defendant in the courtroom. As Hanna's past is revealed, Michael uncovers a deep secret that will impact both of their lives. THE READER is a story about truth and reconciliation, about how one generation comes to terms with the crimes of another.

  7.6

Die Fälscher

2007, Austria, Germany

• Actors: Karl Markovics, August Diehl, Devid Striesow, Martin Brambach, August Zirner, Veit Stübner, Sebastian Urzendowsky, Andreas Schmidt, Tilo Prückner, Lenn Kudrjawizki, Norman Stoffregen, Bernd Raucamp, Gode Benedix, Oliver Kanter, Dirk Prinz, Hille Beseler, Erik Jan Rippmann, Tim Breyvogel, Dolores Chaplin, Roland Fischer-Briand, Louie Austen, Michael Blohn, Marie Bäumer, Arndt Schwering-Sohnrey, Jan Pohl, Lilly Kugler, Matthias Luhn, Heinz Schubert, Roswitha Straka, Holger Schober
• Genre: Crime, Drama, War
• Director(s): Stefan Ruzowitzky
• Available languages:
  • English English.

The Counterfeiters is the true story of the largest counterfeiting operation in history, set up by the Nazis in 1936. Salomon "Sally" Sorowitsch is the king of counterfeiters. He lives a mischievous life of cards, booze, and women in Berlin during the Nazi-era. Suddenly his luck runs dry when arrested by Superintendent Friedrich Herzog. Immediately thrown into the Mauthausen concentration camp, Salomon exhibits exceptional skills there and is soon transferred to the upgraded camp of Sachsenhausen. Upon his arrival, he once again comes face to face with Herzog, who is there on a secret mission. Hand-picked for his unique skill, Salomon and a group of professionals are forced to produce fake foreign currency under the program Operation Bernhard. The team, which also includes detainee Adolf Burger, is given luxury barracks for their assistance. But while Salomon attempts to weaken the economy of Germany's allied opponents, Adolf refuses to use his skills for Nazi profit and would like to do something to stop Operation Bernhard's aid to the war effort. Faced with a moral dilemma, Salomon must decide whether his actions, which could prolong the war and risk the lives of fellow prisoners, are ultimately the right ones.

  8.5

Das Leben der Anderen

2006, Germany

• Actors: Martina Gedeck, Ulrich Mühe, Sebastian Koch, Ulrich Tukur, Thomas Thieme, Hans-Uwe Bauer, Volkmar Kleinert, Matthias Brenner, Charly Hübner, Herbert Knaup, Bastian Trost, Marie Gruber, Volker Michalowski, Werner Daehn, Martin Brambach, Hubertus Hartmann, Thomas Arnold, Hinnerk Schönemann, Paul Faßnacht, Ludwig Blochberger, Paul Maximilian Schüller, Susanna Kraus, Gabi Fleming, Michael Gerber, Fabian von Klitzing, Harald Polzin, Sheri Hagen, Gitta Schweighöfer, Elja-Dusa Kedves, Hildegard Schroedter
• Genre: Drama, Thriller
• Director(s): Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
• Available languages:
  • German German.

In the early 1980s, Georg Dreyman (a successful dramatist) and his longtime companion Christa-Maria Sieland (a popular actress), were huge intellectual stars in (former) East Germany, although they secretly don't always toe the party line. One day, the Minister of Culture becomes interested in Christa, so the secret service agent Wiesler is instructed to observe and sound out the couple, but their life fascinates him more and more.