Coffee Break Languages

Have you been looking for some German movies to supplement your language learning? The variety within the German movie industry really is astonishing, but we have managed to find some of the most highly-rated films to give you a taste of what’s produced for the silver screen there. They can be enjoyed with or without subtitles.

Before we get started, we have a curiosity to share with you! Do you know what ab Donnerstag im Kino means? The translation is from Thursday in the cinema, and it’s a common phrase associated with films because new films are traditionally released on a Thursday in Germany.

Interessant, right? With that, schnapp’ dir eine Schüssel Popcorn und los geht’s!

1. Good Bye, Lenin! (2003)

Set against a time of great change, der Mauerfall and die Wiedervereinigung, “Good bye Lenin!” relays the tale of a young man’s efforts to hide the true events of German history from his mum. He does this with the best of intentions, as she is not to receive any shock that may have a detrimental effect on her health after being in a coma. 

Consequently, Alex goes to great lengths to maintain the pretence that everything is as it was, never letting on to his Mum that the Berlin Wall has fallen. How far will Alex go in contriving elaborate schemes in order to shield his mum from the reality of the outer world?

 

2. Sophie Scholl – Die letzten Tage (2005)

Based on the life of anti-Nazi heroine Sophie Scholl, played by Julia Jentsch, this story is set in 1943 in Munich. The plot of this German movie deals with the interrogation process and the last six days of Scholl’s life.

Genuine incarceration records were used to help make the film. She and her brother were members of the student resistance group “The White Rose”. They have been detained after distributing leaflets which criticise the regime. The police inspector, Robert Mohr, played by Alexander Held, is unsuccessful in retrieving the information he needs from Sophie. With her firm, idealist values, Sophie does not budge on her stance for a lighter sentence in return for accomplices’ names. 

At its core, the film is a debate over which side is freer: those who bow down to the regime in fear, or those who defy it and remain true to their beliefs. The former may conform to survive, but can anyone truly ‘live’?

3. Die Fälscher (2007)

In 2007, this German movie won the best foreign language film at the Oscars. A Jewish prisoner of war has skills that are valuable to the camp commandant. His counterfeiting abilities are used by his captors against the Allies. 

Do the prisoners go along with the guards’ plan for their own self-preservation in a desperate situation, or do they try to outsmart the guards and remain loyal to the Allies?

4. Oh Boy! (2012)

This black and white German movie is a comedy that introduces the viewer to Niko. He’s unemployed, having dropped out of his Jurastudium 2 years ago, but didn’t let his dad know this important detail about this change in his life. His dad isn’t happy to learn he’s been funding his son’s carefree lifestyle.

Niko begins to learn that his dry wit will only get him so far in life. When he strikes up a romance with a former school friend, he confides in her, Kennst du das, wenn man so das Gefühl hat, dass die Menschen um einen herum irgendwie merkwürdig sind? Und dir wird irgendwie klar, dass vielleicht nicht die Anderen, sondern dass man selbst das Problem ist? Is Niko beginning to look at his choices in life again?

5. Honig im Kopf (2014)

Til Schweiger has not only written and directed this German movie but also stars in it, alongside his daughter, who plays his daughter in the film. It makes it clear that family is a core theme of the film, revolving around the grandfather’s Alzheimer’s disease. 

As the grandfather’s condition worsens, Niko, his son, decides he cannot keep sidestepping the inevitability of putting his dad in a home. Tilda, the granddaughter, has different ideas and, in a bid to save her grandfather from this fate, sets off with him on an adventure to Venice. It’s a place full of fond memories, as this is where he spent his honeymoon with his wife, who died sometime before. There are laughs to be had at the granddad’s inappropriate remarks, which raise a few eyebrows, and tears, when reliving the past proves to be tough with a fading memory.

6. Das finstere Tal (2014)

Next on our list of German movies for learners is Das finstere Tal. This film is a chilling Western-style revenge drama set in a remote mountain village in the Alps. 

When a mysterious stranger arrives, claiming to be a photographer, his presence stirs unease among the villagers. As secrets from the past unravel, tensions rise, and the stranger’s true motives come to light. 

With stunning landscapes and a dark, atmospheric tone, this film offers a gripping narrative that can captivate viewers from start to finish.

7. Vincent will Meer (2010)

In this heartwarming road German movie, Vincent, a young man with Tourette’s syndrome, embarks on an unplanned journey to fulfill his late mother’s dream: to scatter her ashes at the Italian seaside. 

Along for the ride are two unlikely companions – Marie, a spirited woman with anorexia, and Alexander, a control-freak patient with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Their adventure takes them through breathtaking landscapes and humorous, touching moments as they learn to accept themselves and each other.

8. Der Vorname (2018)

In this German film, a seemingly ordinary dinner party takes a sharp turn when a provocative question is raised: What if someone named their child “Adolf”? As friends and family debate the appropriateness of the name, tensions boil over, exposing hidden grudges, long-held secrets, and unresolved conflicts. 

Der Vorname is a sharp, witty comedy that mixes humour with social commentary, providing an entertaining yet thought-provoking experience.

We hope you’ve enjoyed exploring this selection of German movies for learners. Each of these films offers a unique window into German culture, providing entertainment and an opportunity to immerse yourself in authentic language usage. So, grab a bowl of popcorn, press play on one of these pictures and let your language learning journey begin.

Want to watch even more foreign-language films? Check out our film recommendations for French, Italian and Spanish learners too!