The New German Cinema

by John Sandford

Genres: Film, Nonfiction

180 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1980

About the author

There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Bernie4444 · Rating 5 out of 5]

What do you mean the Germans make talkies?

When this book came out in the 1980's it was a shocker to realize that Germany is still going strong with movie-making. Probably a lot of your favorites came out after this book was published. However, the movies in the book are worth scrutinizing as a part of "The New German Cinema"

From the back cover:

In this, the first book to examine the New German Cinema as a whole, John Sandford provides a film-by-film study of these seven directors [Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Werner Herzog, Wim Wenders, Hans-Jurgen Syberberg, Jean-Marie Straub, Alexander Kluge, and Volker Schlondorff], locating their achievements within a frame of developments in television, drama, documentaries, and the political history of contemporary Germany itself.

What drew my attention to this book was the picture of Klaus Kinski from "Aguirre, the Wrath of God” (1972) and there is a great section on this film in the book.

[Tentatively, Convenience · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm sure I've read this, I don't remember it. Don't you hate 'reviews' that start out this way? I give it 4 stars b/c German cinema of the 30 yrs covered by this bk is such an incredible time politically & dramatically. The one thing I DO remember from reading this (I'm now realizing) is how funding was finding its way into these director's hands thru München TV. It probably wasn't much by most people's standards but it was enuf to ensure that some of the most amazing movies were made: Volker Schlöndorff's "The Tin Drum" (a controvery surrounding wch I've written a substantial article about elsewhere) - who may not've been München TV funded (I don't recall), Werner Herzog's "Aguirre", Rainer Werner Fassbinder's "The Third Generation", Hans Jürgen Syberberg.., etc.. If I were to run across any other bks on the subject I'd probably pick them up. In the meantime, if you're interested in the subject, this one will certainly do!

[Tom Newth · Rating 5 out of 5]

up to 1980, an efficient, comprehensive, and perceptive trot through the context and careers of Schlöndorff, Wenders, Herzog, Kluge, Straub, Syberberg, with a particularly good, extended chapter on Fassbinder. First-rate.