German Cinema and the Nation's Past

Media have become extremely important channels for deploying ideology
among viewers, readers and listeners worldwide. When film represents
history, it inevitably re-shapes, re-interpretes and re-creates history for its
audiences. National cinemas addressing national history allow a glance of
that nation's understanding of its past today. This study presents a detailed
discussion of three nationally significant events in German history (WWII, the
1954 Soccer World Cups, Germany's reunification 1989/1990). This is reflected
in The Downfall (2004), Sophie Scholl - The Last Days (2005), The Miracle
of Bern (2003), Germany - A Summer Tale (2006), Berlin Blues (2003), Sun
Ally (1999) and The Life of Others (2006). They represent a sense and essence
of Germany, defining the country expressively as a nation and Germans as
one people amidst European Union, Globalization, and the War on Terrorism.
How do young German filmmakers investigate Germany's negative past
imagery? How was the self-perception of the nation informed in the past and
who regulates the imagery displayed now? Germany has begun construction
of an identity not founded on guilt, but it does not shy away from interrogating
this guilt. This book is directed at researchers in Film, Media,
Communications, History and studies addressing nationality and identity.