Germany Year Zero
Encyclopedia
Germany Year Zero is a 1948 film directed by Roberto Rossellini
. It is the final film in Rossellini's war film trilogy (the first two being Rome, Open City
and Paisà
). Germany Year Zero takes place in post-war Germany
, unlike the others, which take place in German-occupied Rome and post-war Italy, respectively. As in many neorealist
films, Rossellini used mainly local, non-professional actors. He filmed on locations in Berlin
and intended to convey the reality in Germany the year after its near total destruction in World War II
. It contains dramatic images of bombed out Berlin and of the human struggle for survival following the destruction of the Third Reich. When explaining his ideas about realism in an interview, he said, "realism is nothing other than the artistic form of the truth" (Rossellini 35).
officers that occupy Berlin. His brother, Karl-Heinz, has not stepped forward to register with the new police force because he is afraid of punishment for being part of a Nazi regiment that fought the Allies to the bitter end.
While his family is preoccupied with these things, Edmund is mainly left to his own devices in order to survive and to help his family do the same, for Karl-Heinz cannot work without registering with the authorities. Edmund partakes in the black market that ruled Berlin at the time and is cheated by an adult as well as by a group of older children who are much more savvy about life on the street than Edmund. The group of teens introduce him to the art of scamming people, stealing and to the adult vice of casual sex.
Herr Henning (a former school teacher of Edmund) still holds Nazi values and he profits from the sale of Nazi artifacts on the black market. He praises Edmund for joining the Hitler Youth
when his father tried to get him exempted and he harbors a Nazi general. Herr Henning is a pedophile and makes advances towards Edmund. As Edmund wanders through the ruins of post-war Berlin, the church is portrayed as an institution that has no relevance or appeal.
Herr Henning tells Edmund that his father deserves to die because he is weak. Edmund interprets this literally and poisons his father in order to relieve his suffering and to lift the burden placed on his family to take care of the sick and aging man. Herr Henning denies that he meant any such thing. The young Edmund is burdened in conscience and is unable to bear the situation further. He throws himself from a bombed building across the street from where his family lives, falling to his death.
Roberto Rossellini
Roberto Rossellini was an Italian film director and screenwriter. Rossellini was one of the directors of the Italian neorealist cinema, contributing films such as Roma città aperta to the movement.-Early life:Born in Rome, Roberto Rossellini lived on the Via Ludovisi, where Benito Mussolini had...
. It is the final film in Rossellini's war film trilogy (the first two being Rome, Open City
Rome, open city
Rome, Open City is a 1945 Italian war drama film, directed by Roberto Rossellini. The picture features Aldo Fabrizi, Anna Magnani and Marcello Pagliero, and is set in Rome during the Nazi occupation in 1944...
and Paisà
Paisà
Paisà is a 1946 Italian film directed by Roberto Rossellini, the second of a trilogy by Rossellini. It is divided into six episodes. They are set in the Italian Campaign during World War II when Nazi Germany was losing the war against the Allies, using themes such as the difficulty of communication...
). Germany Year Zero takes place in post-war Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, unlike the others, which take place in German-occupied Rome and post-war Italy, respectively. As in many neorealist
Italian neorealism
Italian neorealism is a style of film characterized by stories set amongst the poor and working class, filmed on location, frequently using nonprofessional actors...
films, Rossellini used mainly local, non-professional actors. He filmed on locations in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
and intended to convey the reality in Germany the year after its near total destruction in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. It contains dramatic images of bombed out Berlin and of the human struggle for survival following the destruction of the Third Reich. When explaining his ideas about realism in an interview, he said, "realism is nothing other than the artistic form of the truth" (Rossellini 35).
Plot
The story follows a thirteen-year-old boy, Edmund Kohler. Edmund lives with his ailing father and his brother and sister in a bombed apartment building with five other families. His sister, Eva, is incorrectly accused of prostituting herself to the AlliedAllies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
officers that occupy Berlin. His brother, Karl-Heinz, has not stepped forward to register with the new police force because he is afraid of punishment for being part of a Nazi regiment that fought the Allies to the bitter end.
While his family is preoccupied with these things, Edmund is mainly left to his own devices in order to survive and to help his family do the same, for Karl-Heinz cannot work without registering with the authorities. Edmund partakes in the black market that ruled Berlin at the time and is cheated by an adult as well as by a group of older children who are much more savvy about life on the street than Edmund. The group of teens introduce him to the art of scamming people, stealing and to the adult vice of casual sex.
Herr Henning (a former school teacher of Edmund) still holds Nazi values and he profits from the sale of Nazi artifacts on the black market. He praises Edmund for joining the Hitler Youth
Hitler Youth
The Hitler Youth was a paramilitary organization of the Nazi Party. It existed from 1922 to 1945. The HJ was the second oldest paramilitary Nazi group, founded one year after its adult counterpart, the Sturmabteilung...
when his father tried to get him exempted and he harbors a Nazi general. Herr Henning is a pedophile and makes advances towards Edmund. As Edmund wanders through the ruins of post-war Berlin, the church is portrayed as an institution that has no relevance or appeal.
Herr Henning tells Edmund that his father deserves to die because he is weak. Edmund interprets this literally and poisons his father in order to relieve his suffering and to lift the burden placed on his family to take care of the sick and aging man. Herr Henning denies that he meant any such thing. The young Edmund is burdened in conscience and is unable to bear the situation further. He throws himself from a bombed building across the street from where his family lives, falling to his death.
Cast
- Edmund Moeschke as Edmund Kohler(as Edmund Meschke)
- Ernst Pittschau as Mr. Kohler
- Ingetraud Hinze as Eva Kohler (as Ingetraud Hinz)
- Franz-Otto Krüger as Karl-Heinz Kohler (as Franz Grüger)
- Erich Gühne as Herr Henning - Il maestro
Further reading
- Serceau, Michel. Roberto Rossellini. Paris: Les Editions du Cerf, 1986.
- Guarner, Jose L. Trans. Elizabeth Cameron. New York: Praeger, 1970.
- Brunette, Peter. Roberto Rossellini. New York: Oxford University P, 1987.
- Rossellini, Roberto. My Method: Writings and Interviews. Adriano Aprà, ed. Trans: Annapaola Cancogni. New York : Marsilio Publishers, 1992.