Directing
Günter Jordan is a German documentary filmmaker and author.
During a salesmen meeting, the General Manager of the company asks his staff to share erotic and funny incidents during their door-to-door sales promotions.
Darya Khrenova — a documentalist and the granddaughter of Ilya Trauberg, a successful apprentice of the great Sergey Eisenstein — is trying to solve the mystery of her grandfather’s death at DEFA studio, which he headed after WWII. During the process of the investigation she finds her family, gains more confidence, and takes up a challenge from her grandfather by directing feature films.
The documentary tells the story of the Volksmarinedivision, which was formed by revolting sailors stationed in Berlin during the November Revolution. Starting with the November Revolution itself and the founding of the Volksmarinedivision, the main focus is on the political developments surrounding it and its involvement in the battles for the Berlin City Palace at Christmas 1918 and the unrest in January and March 1919, during which the Volksmarinedivision was smashed by the Freikorps and its members persecuted. Due to its proximity to the Spartacus League and the KPD, which had just been founded at the time, the Volksmarinedivision was an important point of reference for GDR historical politics and the patron saint of the GDR's Volksmarine.
The compilation film looks back on four decades of East German film production to mark the 40th anniversary of DEFA. Beginning with the founding event of DEFA on May 17, 1946, it continues with film clips from many test recordings of the first feature films after licensing. Well-known directors, screenwriters, actors and musicians accompany the historical newsreel and feature film excerpts and thus bear witness to the reconstruction work in the early post-war years. A documentary that reflects the diversity of DEFA productions in the film and newsreel sector.
In 1930, workers and their children founded a club on Helmholtzplatz in Berlin. A store was rented and converted, giving the children a home where they could hang out during the day and pursue their interests. As young pioneers, they also made posters and banners there to support their fathers' strike.
Documentary about German communist Max Hoelz (1889-1933).