Der geteilte Himmel
Encyclopedia
Divided Heaven is an East German drama film
directed by Konrad Wolf
. It was released in 1964.
's novel Divided Heaven
, released in 1963. Director Konrad Wolf had read the author's manuscript, before the book was published, and decided to film it. Principal photography took place in Halle from late 1963 to early 1964.
both received the Erich Weinert Medal for their work on the film.
A contemporary critic from the West German Süddeutsche Zeitung
's described the film as "perhaps the best German film since the war." Die Zeit
's reviewer wrote "Although it was made by communists... Konrad and Christa Wolf had to break away from their belief in the party in order to make this picture... And that is why it is so convincing." West German author Hans Helmut Prinzler called it "the first candid attempt to portray the national consciousnesses in East Germany."
The film was removed from circulation on several occasions in the following years, when the Socialist Unity Party of Germany
decreed it, depending on the political situation. In one resolution to remove it, in 1970, a Ministry of Culture official concluded that it "unnecessarily over-stresses the theme of the flight from the Republic."
In 1995, a group of historians and cinema researchers chose Divided Heaven as one of the 100 most important German film ever made.
Drama film
A drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity, moral dilemmas, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, class divisions, violence against women...
directed by Konrad Wolf
Konrad Wolf
Konrad Wolf was an East German film director, son of Friedrich Wolf, brother of Markus Wolf....
. It was released in 1964.
Plot
While recovering from a mental breakdown, the young Rita Seidel recalls the last two years: in which she fell in love with Manfred, a chemist who is ten years older. As Manfred became disillusioned with life in East Germany, he moved to the West. Rita followed him there and tried to convince him to return, but realized he would never do it. Rita comes to terms with the past and decides to concentrate on her work.Cast
- Renate Blume as Rita Seidel
- Eberhard EscheEberhard EscheEberhard Esche was an actor from the former East Germany.Born on 25 October 1933 in Leipzig, Germany, Eberhard Esche was a German film and television actor who appeared in the following:*Das Haus der Schwestern *Mama ist unmöglich...
as Manfred Herrfurth - Hans Hardt-Hardtloff as Meternagel
- Hilmar ThateHilmar ThateHilmar Thate is a German actor. He has appeared in 40 films and television shows since 1955.-Selected filmography:* The Gleiwitz Case * Professor Mamlock * Der geteilte Himmel * Angels of Iron...
as Ernst Wendland - Martin Flörchinger as Herrfurth
- Erika Pelikowsky as Mrs. Herrfurth
- Günther Grabbert as Ernst Schwarzenbach
- Horst Jonischkan as Martin Jung
- Petra Kelling as Sigrid
- Jürgen Kern as Hänschen
- Horst Weinheimer as Ermisch
- Hans-Joachim Hanisch as Kuhl
- Frank Michelis as Karßuweit
- Paul Berndt as Melcherr
- Werner Eberlein as Yuri GagarinYuri GagarinYuri Alekseyevich Gagarin was a Soviet pilot and cosmonaut. He was the first human to journey into outer space, when his Vostok spacecraft completed an orbit of the Earth on April 12, 1961....
's voice
Production
The film's script was adapted from Christa WolfChrista Wolf
Christa Wolf was a German literary critic, novelist, and essayist. She is one of the best-known writers to have emerged from the former East Germany.-Biography:...
's novel Divided Heaven
Divided Heaven
Divided Heaven is a German novel written by Christa Wolf in 1963. The author describes society and problems in the German Democratic Republic in the '60s. The book won the Heinrich Mann Prize, and has been translated into many different languages.- History :Rita and Manfred are an East German...
, released in 1963. Director Konrad Wolf had read the author's manuscript, before the book was published, and decided to film it. Principal photography took place in Halle from late 1963 to early 1964.
Reception
Divided Heaven was viewed by 1.5 million people in the first year after its premiere. In 1965, Konrad Wolf and leading actor Eberhard EscheEberhard Esche
Eberhard Esche was an actor from the former East Germany.Born on 25 October 1933 in Leipzig, Germany, Eberhard Esche was a German film and television actor who appeared in the following:*Das Haus der Schwestern *Mama ist unmöglich...
both received the Erich Weinert Medal for their work on the film.
A contemporary critic from the West German Süddeutsche Zeitung
Süddeutsche Zeitung
The Süddeutsche Zeitung , published in Munich, is the largest German national subscription daily newspaper.-Profile:The title literally translates as "South German Newspaper". It is read throughout Germany by 1.1 million readers daily and boasts a relatively high circulation abroad...
's described the film as "perhaps the best German film since the war." Die Zeit
Die Zeit
Die Zeit is a German nationwide weekly newspaper that is highly respected for its quality journalism.With a circulation of 488,036 and an estimated readership of slightly above 2 million, it is the most widely read German weekly newspaper...
's reviewer wrote "Although it was made by communists... Konrad and Christa Wolf had to break away from their belief in the party in order to make this picture... And that is why it is so convincing." West German author Hans Helmut Prinzler called it "the first candid attempt to portray the national consciousnesses in East Germany."
The film was removed from circulation on several occasions in the following years, when the Socialist Unity Party of Germany
Socialist Unity Party of Germany
The Socialist Unity Party of Germany was the governing party of the German Democratic Republic from its formation on 7 October 1949 until the elections of March 1990. The SED was a communist political party with a Marxist-Leninist ideology...
decreed it, depending on the political situation. In one resolution to remove it, in 1970, a Ministry of Culture official concluded that it "unnecessarily over-stresses the theme of the flight from the Republic."
In 1995, a group of historians and cinema researchers chose Divided Heaven as one of the 100 most important German film ever made.
External links
- Divided Heaven original posters on ostfilm.de.