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Germany, Pale Mother [Blu-ray] [1980]

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Helma Sanders-Brahms (Director) Rated: Suitable for 15 years and over Format: Blu-ray
4.3 out of 5 stars 10 customer reviews
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Product details

  • Directors: Helma Sanders-Brahms
  • Language: German, French
  • Subtitles: English
  • Region: Region B/2 (Read more about DVD/Blu-ray formats.)
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9 - 1.78:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Classification: 15
  • Studio: Bfi
  • DVD Release Date: 25 May 2015
  • Run Time: 151 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B00T05OB6K
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 57,307 in DVD & Blu-ray (See Top 100 in DVD & Blu-ray)

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Product Description

Product Description

GERMANY PALE MOTHER (Blu-ray)
A Film by Helma Sanders-Brahms

Set during the Third Reich and its aftermath, this lyrical, harrowing tale of love and war is a neglected classic of New German cinema.

Hans and Lene scarcely have time to meet and marry before Hans is sent away to fight, leaving Lene to give birth during an air raid and struggle through the war with a baby daughter. Based on director and writer Helma Sanders-Brahms' mother's experience, the film explores the devastating impact of politics of family life.

Eva Mates (Lene) gives a brilliant, fearless performance, with the film casting a powerful emotional spell which is intensified by a delicate, plaintive piano score. German critics savaged the film at its premiere, baulking at its subjective female take on recent history. Cut by 30 minutes for cinema release, only now has it been restored to its impressive original form and released for the first time on Blu-ray

Special features:

  • Germany, Pale Mother: original director's cut (Helma Sanders-Brahms, 1980, 151 minutes)
  • Germany, Pale Mother alternative theatrical cut (Helma Sanders-Brahms, 1980, 123 minutes)
  • Hermann Mein Vater (Helma Sanders-Brahms, 1987, 52 min)
  • Extensive booklet with essays and complete film credits
  • Other extras TBC

    • Awards

    • 1980 - Berlin International Film Festival, Golden Bear - Nominated
    • 1980 Créteil International Women's Festival, Grand Prix - Won

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4.0 out of 5 starsRemastered to the original length - a stark tale of one German families war.
By Tommy Dooley TOP 50 REVIEWER on 28 May 2015
Format: Blu-ray Verified Purchase
Originally showcased at the 1980 Berlin Film Festival, this was initially criticised for being far too long - that being 151 minutes. So it was edited down to just two hours and has become seen as a German classic in the intervening years. It tells the story of Hans and Lene who meet before the outbreak of World War II and fall in love - both are not pro Hitler and so are not Party members. It opens with the poem of the title `Germany Pale Mother' by Berthold Brecht and it is read by his daughter. It was penned in 1933 but to hear it today it would be easy to mistake it being about Hitler and the War.

When Germany invades Poland Hans is called up and so begins the long years of separation. In the meantime they have a daughter - Anna - who is the narrator of the film and tells their story through her eyes and the experiences of a child. The war is cruel and then when it is over the cruelties seem to get worse. This film spans many years and the heartbreaks and travails of just existing - let alone surviving.

This is not a war film - it uses archive footage (which looks very aged indeed) interspersed with the later material to try to place the story better in the historical context. The acting is all superb -but the story is depressing. It is meant to be depressing I think to ram home the cost of war and what it does to the body, mind and even the soul. There are some very hard to watch scenes here and at the full length this does need some commitment. There is a line that is possibly meant more as a plea than a statement and that is when Anna says `who am I to judge, I was just lucky enough to be born later'. German speakers will not be impressed by the sub titles though - pretty average as far as they go. This though is a great film, it is one that the BFI have helped restore and it is a difficult watch, but it is also a film that needs to be seen if only for its message and it needs to be preserved in the hope that such folly will never be repeated.
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4.0 out of 5 starsA daughter's bitter love letter to her homeland
By Persistent Gardener on 9 Jun. 2015
Format: Blu-ray Verified Purchase
Please note that this review discusses details of the plot.

"Oh, Germany, pale mother,
what have your sons done to you
that you sit amongst the people,
a mockery or a threat!"

Bertolt Brecht

This is a story narrated from a feminine point of view. Emphasis is placed on
the human faces, the hands, the touch, and the everyday activities of women.
Men are often an intrusive, abusive and threatening presence.

Anna narrates the story of her mother Lene and her father Hans, from the eve of World War II
in Europe (1939), to the reconstruction of a defeated Germany (1950).
Both Hans and Lene dislike Nazis but they are not resisting the regime either.
Ulrich, Hans' close friend who is an ardent National Socialist, becomes a Party official,
and he never goes to war. Rich uncle Bertrand is in the Reich's government.
Since Hans isn't an enthusiastic supporter of the regime, he is one of the first
to be drafted for the invasion of Poland.
There Hans participates in the execution of civilians, shooting a Polish girl
who looks exactly like his wife Lene.
In 1940, Hans participates in the invasion of France. There he is accessory to
another murder of civilians: In a stunning calvary scene, French hostages-including
a French girl with the face of Lene-are marched up a sand dune, lined up against
the azure sky and shot. Twice Hans symbolically murders Lene and, by extension, Germany itself.
Lene gives birth to Anna during an Allied air raid. Their home is bombed, and Lene
flees to the countryside, fending for herself and the infant.
When Soviet soldiers enter their cottage, Lene pretends that she is sick with typhus.Read more ›
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4.0 out of 5 starsFlawed, but well worth watching.
By Bobby Smith TOP 1000 REVIEWER on 1 Jan. 2016
Format: DVD
This completely suits the description of a flawed classic, as it is both compelling and overlong, in places. The acting, though, is absolutely top notch throughout - even the little girl who looks so natural in her scenes with the main actress. I must say that the film, overall, is one of the most depressing I have ever seen. That said, it does provoke intense feelings of sympathy for the main characters - no easy task given that they are German living through WW2. In short, if you liked Heimat you will really enjoy this film.
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5.0 out of 5 starsGreat story from the German POV of an ordinary non-Nazi couple
By John Kirkby on 14 Jan. 2016
Format: Blu-ray Verified Purchase
I thought it was a very interesting movie. As far as the Blu-ray picture quality goes I'm not sure it's any better than the best a DVD can be but it's certainly OK. However this is also the restored original long version which was not shown in theaters world-wide. At 2 hours and 31 minutes length in including the end credits I didn't think it was too long considering everything that happens to this small family who like many others had the misfortune to be living there then.
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5.0 out of 5 starsExcellent
By Ms. Lilian Black on 23 July 2015
Format: DVD Verified Purchase
Amazing insight into the German experience of World War 2 and it's impact on Germans.
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