Germania Anno Zero (Germany Year Zero) (1947)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Walter M

  
  [font=Century Gothic]In "Germany, Year Zero," 12-year old Edmund(Edmund Meschke) does not go to school or play much, instead foraging for food in the ruins of postwar Berlin due to his family being short on ration cards because of his brother Karl-Heinz(Franz Gruger) being… More
  [font=Century Gothic]In "Germany, Year Zero," 12-year old Edmund(Edmund Meschke) does not go to school or play much, instead foraging for food in the ruins of postwar Berlin due to his family being short on ration cards because of his brother Karl-Heinz(Franz Gruger) being afraid to report to the police because of his wartime activities. His sister Eva(Ingetraud Hinz) helps out as much as she can, mooching cigarettes in the evening which can be traded in for food. While living in a multifamily apartment, all are in support of their invalid father(Ernst Pittschau). One day while trying to sell a scale, Edmund runs into Enning(Erich Guhne), an old teacher...[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]Directed by Roberto Rossellini, "Germany, Year Zero" is helped out enormously by location filming in developing a powerful portrait of a country trying to recover from a disastrous war. With little work and food to go around, the people are often forced to go hungry, a dire situation that is made worse if they have any sick that have to be cared for. While not judging any of the characters, the movie also makes the point that a lack of a moral authority in the wake of the poisonous Nazi regime can also lead to the unthinkable being possible again.[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font]

• Chris B

  
  While many argue that "Germany Year Zero" is just misery stacked upon misery with nothing else, sometimes that's life and is reality for people. This is the third and final film in Rossellini's War Trilogy and is by far the shortest and to the point, running at 73… More
  While many argue that "Germany Year Zero" is just misery stacked upon misery with nothing else, sometimes that's life and is reality for people. This is the third and final film in Rossellini's War Trilogy and is by far the shortest and to the point, running at 73 minutes while the others are closer to 120 minutes. In no way does the run time hinder the message of the film, rather it makes the message clear and hard. The film's protagonist is a twelve year old boy named Edmund Koehler who along with his brother and sister must care for their weak and dying father. Edmund's older brother was in the German army and thus is in hiding due to the allied forces being in power at the end of WWII. This means that there are four people trying to surviving on three rations, leading them all to struggle day to day. Edmund helps in any way he can, often making mistakes and being taken advantage of in many ways but It's clear his intentions are heroic and noble. After helping an old teacher sell items and make a little money, Edmund begins to get brain washed by the teacher who constantly speaks of being brave and letting the weak die and the strong live. It's due to this that Edmund proceeds down a rough and ultimately fatal downwards spiral. The film itself is a lonely and dark coming of age film in wore torn Germany and is almost a horror film for the neo-realist genre.