Kurt Maetzig
Encyclopedia
Kurt Maetzig is an East German film director who had a significant effect on the film industry in the GDR. He is one of the most respected filmmakers of East Germany. He currently lives in Wildkuhl, Mecklenburg
, and has three children.
borough of Berlin, where he gained an insight into the film industry from an early age as his father was the proprietor of a factory that produced film copies there. During the First World War
, he stayed with his grandmother in Hamburg
. After the end of the war, he moved back to Berlin, where he completed his secondary education at the Leibniz-Oberrealschule. He then enrolled at the Technical University of Munich
(TUM), where he studied chemistry, engineering and political and business economics. He also studied sociology, psychology and law for a year at the Sorbonne
in Paris
.
In the late 1920s, Maetzig worked at his father's factory during the holidays, gaining experience in all areas of film production. He began shooting his own films in 1932, and three years later he ran his own cartoon workshop, where he also worked on titles and opening credits for short films.
from TUM in 1935 after he had completed his dissertation entitled "The accountancy of a film-copying institution." He then worked for various firms, including his father's, where he worked on film technology and photochemistry
, and also gave lessons on copying techniques and problems with sound and colour in films. However, following the Nuremberg Laws
of 1935, his work permit was revoked by the Film Chamber of the Reich
in 1937 due to his mother's Jewish heritage.
During the Second World War
, Maetzig was a member of the illegal Communist Party
. After the war, he moved back to Berlin, where he co-founded a group called "Filmaktiv" in 1945, whose aim was to organise a resumption of film production. He joined the newly founded state-owned film studio, the Deutsche Film-Aktiengesellschaft
(DEFA) in 1947, where he worked as a director both of documentaries and feature films. He was also the first director and editor of the weekly newsreel "Der Augenzeuge" (English
: The Eyewitness).
Maetzig's first feature film was Ehe im Schatten (Marriage in the Shadows), released in 1947. It was the most successful film of the post-war period, attracting over 12 million viewers in total. His other notable films include Die Buntkarierten
(1949), which was entered into the Cannes Film Festival
, the Ernst Thälmann films
(1954–55), and the science fiction film Der schweigende Stern (1960). He also directed the film Das Kaninchen bin ich (The Rabbit is Me) (1965), which was one of twelve films that were banned in East Germany after the 11th Plenum
of the SED
's Central Committee
for being too critical of the internal social problems within the country.
He retired as a film director in 1976.
, where he also held the post of Professor of Stage Direction. From 1967 to 1988 he was an executive member of the Verband der Film- und Fernsehschaffenden der DDR (GDR Federation of Film and Television Producers). He then became the vice-president of the Fédération Internationale des Ciné-Clubs (International Federation of Cinema Clubs) (FICC) in 1974.
He was also president of the Nationales Spielfilmfestival der DDR (English: GDR National Film Festival) on four separate occasions between 1980 and 1990, and he has been a member of the Akademie der Künste
(Academy of the Arts) in Berlin since 1950, where a considerable archive of his works is located. In 1983, he was a member of the jury at the 33rd Berlin International Film Festival
.
Mecklenburg
Mecklenburg is a historical region in northern Germany comprising the western and larger part of the federal-state Mecklenburg-Vorpommern...
, and has three children.
Early life
Kurt Maetzig was the son of Robert Maetzig and Marie Maetzig (née Lyon). He grew up in the CharlottenburgCharlottenburg
Charlottenburg is a locality of Berlin within the borough of Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf, named after Queen consort Sophia Charlotte...
borough of Berlin, where he gained an insight into the film industry from an early age as his father was the proprietor of a factory that produced film copies there. During the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, he stayed with his grandmother in Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
. After the end of the war, he moved back to Berlin, where he completed his secondary education at the Leibniz-Oberrealschule. He then enrolled at the Technical University of Munich
Technical University of Munich
The Technische Universität München is a research university with campuses in Munich, Garching, and Weihenstephan...
(TUM), where he studied chemistry, engineering and political and business economics. He also studied sociology, psychology and law for a year at the Sorbonne
Sorbonne
The Sorbonne is an edifice of the Latin Quarter, in Paris, France, which has been the historical house of the former University of Paris...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
.
In the late 1920s, Maetzig worked at his father's factory during the holidays, gaining experience in all areas of film production. He began shooting his own films in 1932, and three years later he ran his own cartoon workshop, where he also worked on titles and opening credits for short films.
Career
He received his PhDDoctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
from TUM in 1935 after he had completed his dissertation entitled "The accountancy of a film-copying institution." He then worked for various firms, including his father's, where he worked on film technology and photochemistry
Photochemistry
Photochemistry, a sub-discipline of chemistry, is the study of chemical reactions that proceed with the absorption of light by atoms or molecules.. Everyday examples include photosynthesis, the degradation of plastics and the formation of vitamin D with sunlight.-Principles:Light is a type of...
, and also gave lessons on copying techniques and problems with sound and colour in films. However, following the Nuremberg Laws
Nuremberg Laws
The Nuremberg Laws of 1935 were antisemitic laws in Nazi Germany introduced at the annual Nuremberg Rally of the Nazi Party. After the takeover of power in 1933 by Hitler, Nazism became an official ideology incorporating scientific racism and antisemitism...
of 1935, his work permit was revoked by the Film Chamber of the Reich
Reichsfilmkammer
The Reichsfilmkammer was a public corporation based in Berlin that regulated the film industry in National Socialist Germany between 1933 and 1945...
in 1937 due to his mother's Jewish heritage.
During the Second World War
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...
, Maetzig was a member of the illegal Communist Party
Communist Party of Germany
The Communist Party of Germany was a major political party in Germany between 1918 and 1933, and a minor party in West Germany in the postwar period until it was banned in 1956...
. After the war, he moved back to Berlin, where he co-founded a group called "Filmaktiv" in 1945, whose aim was to organise a resumption of film production. He joined the newly founded state-owned film studio, the Deutsche Film-Aktiengesellschaft
Deutsche Film-Aktiengesellschaft
Deutsche Film-Aktiengesellschaft, better known as DEFA, was the public-owned film studio in East Germany throughout that country's history.-History:...
(DEFA) in 1947, where he worked as a director both of documentaries and feature films. He was also the first director and editor of the weekly newsreel "Der Augenzeuge" (English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
: The Eyewitness).
Maetzig's first feature film was Ehe im Schatten (Marriage in the Shadows), released in 1947. It was the most successful film of the post-war period, attracting over 12 million viewers in total. His other notable films include Die Buntkarierten
Die Buntkarierten
The Beaverskin is a 1949 German drama film directed by Kurt Maetzig.-Plot:At 1884, Guste is born as the illegitimate daughter of a maid. She marries a worker named Paul; her mistress gives her a set of common, checkered mattresses as a wedding gift. During the First World War, Paul is called to...
(1949), which was entered into the Cannes Film Festival
1949 Cannes Film Festival
The 3rd Cannes Film Festival was held on September 2-17, 1949. No festival was held in 1948.- Jury :The entire jury for this festival were French.*Georges Huisman *Jules Romains *Mme...
, the Ernst Thälmann films
Ernst Thälmann (film)
Ernst Thälmann is an East German film in two parts about the life of the German Communist leader Ernst Thälmann, directed by Kurt Maetzig and starring Günther Simon in the title role. The first picture, Ernst Thälmann - Sohn seiner Klasse , was released at 1954...
(1954–55), and the science fiction film Der schweigende Stern (1960). He also directed the film Das Kaninchen bin ich (The Rabbit is Me) (1965), which was one of twelve films that were banned in East Germany after the 11th Plenum
Plenum
Plenum may refer to:* Plenum chamber, a chamber intended to contain air, gas, or liquid at positive pressure* Plenism, or Horror vacui...
of the SED
Socialist Unity Party of Germany
The Socialist Unity Party of Germany was the governing party of the German Democratic Republic from its formation on 7 October 1949 until the elections of March 1990. The SED was a communist political party with a Marxist-Leninist ideology...
's Central Committee
Central Committee
Central Committee was the common designation of a standing administrative body of communist parties, analogous to a board of directors, whether ruling or non-ruling in the twentieth century and of the surviving, mostly Trotskyist, states in the early twenty first. In such party organizations the...
for being too critical of the internal social problems within the country.
He retired as a film director in 1976.
Other Commitments
From 1954 to 1964, Maetzig was the first president of the German University of Cinema in Potsdam-BabelsbergPotsdam-Babelsberg
Babelsberg is the largest district of the Brandenburg capital Potsdam in Germany. The affluent neighbourhood named after a small hill on the Havel river is famous for Babelsberg Palace and Park, part of the Palaces and Parks of Potsdam and Berlin UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well as for Studio...
, where he also held the post of Professor of Stage Direction. From 1967 to 1988 he was an executive member of the Verband der Film- und Fernsehschaffenden der DDR (GDR Federation of Film and Television Producers). He then became the vice-president of the Fédération Internationale des Ciné-Clubs (International Federation of Cinema Clubs) (FICC) in 1974.
He was also president of the Nationales Spielfilmfestival der DDR (English: GDR National Film Festival) on four separate occasions between 1980 and 1990, and he has been a member of the Akademie der Künste
Akademie der Künste
The Akademie der Künste, Berlin is an arts institution in Berlin, Germany. It was founded in 1696 by Elector Frederick III of Brandenburg as the Prussian Academy of Arts, an academic institution where members could meet and discuss and share ideas...
(Academy of the Arts) in Berlin since 1950, where a considerable archive of his works is located. In 1983, he was a member of the jury at the 33rd Berlin International Film Festival
33rd Berlin International Film Festival
The 33rd annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from February 18 to March 3, 1983.-Jury:* Jeanne Moreau * Alex Bänninger* Franco Brusati* Elem Klimov* Ursula Ludwig* Kurt Maetzig* Joseph L...
.
Filmography
- 1946: Der Augenzeuge (weekly newsreel)
- 1946: Berlin im AufbauBerlin im AufbauBerlin im Aufbau is an East German documentary film directed by Kurt Maetzig between 1945 and 1946. It was a prominent 22 minute documentary, released in 1946 and produced by the Deutsche Film-Aktiengesellschaft film company...
(documentary) - 1946: Musikalischer Besuch (documentary)
- 1946: 1.Mai 1946 (documentary)
- 1946: Leipziger Messe 1946 (documentary)
- 1946: Einheit SPD - KPD (documentary)
- 1947: Marriage in the Shadows
- 1949: Die Buntkarierten
- 1950: The Council of the Gods
- 1950: Immer bereit (documentary)
- 1950: Familie Benthin
- 1951: Die SonnenbrucksDie SonnenbrucksDie Sonnenbrucks is an East German film. It was released in 1951....
- 1952: Roman einer jungen Ehe
- 1954: Ernst Thälmann - Sohn seiner Klasse
- 1955: Ernst Thälmann - Führer seiner Klasse
- 1957: Castles and Cottages
- 1957: Vergeßt mir meine Traudel nichtVergeßt mir meine Traudel nichtDon't Forget My Little Traudel is an East German comedy film, directed by Kurt Maetzig. It was released in 1957.-Plot:...
- 1958: The Sailor's SongThe Sailor's SongThe Sailor's Song is an East German black-and-white film directed by Kurt Maetzig and Günter Reisch. It was released in 1958.-Plot:As the news of the October Revolution sweep through the world, the German High Seas Fleet's command, weary of a mutiny, decides to send all its ships to a suicide...
- 1960: First Spaceship on VenusFirst Spaceship on VenusFirst Spaceship on Venus, German: Der schweigende Stern , Polish: Milcząca Gwiazda, is a 1960 East German/Polish film directed by Kurt Maetzig and based on the novel The Astronauts by Stanisław Lem...
- 1961: Septemberliebe
- 1961: Der Traum des Hauptmann Loy
- 1961: Der Schatten
- 1963: An französischen Kaminen
- 1964: Preludio 11
- 1965: The Rabbit Is MeThe Rabbit Is MeThe Rabbit Is Me is an East German drama film directed by Kurt Maetzig. It was filmed in 1965, and based on the novel by Manfred Bieler.-Plot:...
- 1967: Das Mädchen auf dem Brett
- 1967: Die Fahne von Kriwoj Rog
- 1970: Aus unserer Zeit
- 1972: Januskopf
- 1976: Mann gegen Mann