KINO: The German Film Magazin

2007 -- The Year in Cinema

Between Laughter and Tears

Comedy is one of the most popular film genres. 2007 saw a lot of humorous films produced in Germany, but not all were audience favourites. Dani Levy, for instance, was unable to fulfil the expectations for his Nazi parody «Mein Führer -- the Truly Truest Truth About Adolf Hitler». More successful was the literary adaptation «Runaway Horse», which presented writer Martin Walser's eponymous novella as a light summer comedy. And Germany's most successful film comedian Michael «Bully» Herbig drew in 2.2 million moviegoers with his animated parody of royal historical films, «Lissi und der wilde Kaiser». KINO looks at three very different approaches to film comedy.

To Live and Die in LA

A few young German directors were able to realise their dreams of working in Hollywood this year, with varying degrees of success. Oliver Hirschbiegel filmed «The Invasion» starring Nicole Kidman, but the studio was unhappy with the original cut, and the film has been changed. But Menan Yapo's mystery-thriller «Premonition» gave its star Sandra Bullock her biggest US box-office hit to date. And with support from Roland Emmerich, Marco Kreuzpaintner made the acclaimed film «Trade». KINO looks at three young directors and their experiences working in the US.

Tinseltown on the Spree

At the start of the year, the German film industry got considerable financial support from the Federal Ministry for Culture: 60 million euros aimed at boosting film production. That money lured big international productions such as «Valkyrie», starring Tom Cruise, and «Speed Racer» to Berlin-Babelsberg. But German productions such as Tom Tykwer's «The International» and Leander Haussmann's «Warum Männer nicht zuhören und Frauen schlecht einparken» also profited. KINO looks at what the German Federal Film Fund (DFFF) did for film in 2007.

Three Big Winners

Box office success is one thing. But major international festivals and prizes are also important for a film's reputation and for gaining attention from abroad. And 2007 was a good year for German film seen from that perspective as well. KINO presents Oscar winner Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, the underground film «Four Minutes», which won the German Film Prize, and Fatih Akin, who was honoured both at the Cannes Film Festival and at the European Film Awards for the screenplay to his latest film.

KINO Hits the Road in Europe With German Films

In order to promote German cinema abroad, German Films organises film weeks and presents the works of German film school students at major international festivals. KINO tagged along in Madrid, Cannes and Warsaw.Cinematic Christmas

Our end-of-the-year programme would not be complete without a holiday-themed film. What happens when, for her first Christmas with her new partner, a woman invites her three ex-husbands, the fathers of her three children? KINO presents a new screwball comedy starring Martina Gedeck.