The Bfi Companion to German Cinema

by Martin Wedel

The BFI Companion to German Cinema is a concise and authoritative source of reference. Over two hundred entries on film actors, directors, producers, cinematographers, critics, film industry, film movements and festivals covers the entire spectrum of German-speaking cinema from the 1890s to the popular comedies of the 1990s. In-depth articles consider the artistic peaks of Weimer cinema, the émigré directors, film politics, and the star system of Nazi cinema, women and film, the New German Cinema and the revival of genre cinema since.
Entries evaluate such notables as Fritz Lang, Marlene Dietrich, Leni Riefenstahl, Erich Pommer, Conrad Veidt, Wim Wenders and R.W. Fassbinder, as well as popular genres (the "Heimat" film, literary adaptations, musicals) alongside the major studios (UFA and DEFA) and international personalities such as Klaus Kinski, Wolfgang Petersen, and Michael Ballhaus.
Leading international scholar Thomas Elsaesser also contributes an introductory essay on developments in post-unification German cinema, placing it in the context of its recent history and of general relations between Hollywood and European cinema.

259 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2000

Reviews

[Anthony McGill]

Excellent reference work for film students interested in the history of German Cinema. Provides short and insightful critical evaluation and biography of all those artists significant to German cinema, pre and post war. Also provides informative articles on subjects like production, screenwriting, genres, film criticism, exhibition, cinema and state, censorship, the German cinema as image and idea, Austrian cinema, New German Cinema to mention a few topics in this very comprehensive reference/guide book to an important national cinema.
Appears that the authors have hardly missed anyone who played a major role in German film and its influences world wide and from what I can ascertain all pretty accurate.
Take note, as this book was published in 1999, obviously nothing from the new millennium is covered.
For me, I find this companion book essential and as it is compiled in an easy to follow A-Z listing of subjects, one that I keep referring to over and over again to access reliable information and acquire more understanding of all aspects of German cinema.