More than any book or exhibition, even more than school lessons, popular feature films influence Germans’ image of their own history. That is not new knowledge perhaps, nor is it surprising. But as articulated by Hans Walter Hütter, director of the “Haus der Geschichte der Bundesrepublik Deutschland” (House of History of the Federal Republic of Germany), the claim carries a lot of weight. Hütter adds, “In the final analysis, historical accuracy and authentic scenery don’t insure high ratings and ticket sales. They depend more on telling an interesting, often melodramatic story.” So does a people’s notion of its history depend on suspense rather than verity, emotional content more than historic accuracy? Or, in fact, is knowledge of history based on false or at least fictive narratives? That may be true, indicates the exhibition”Inszeniert – Deutsche Geschichte im Spielfilm” (In Scene – German History in Feature Film), while demonstrating that without filmmaking, broad sectors of the public wouldn’t be confronted with historical subjects at all. How have directors come to terms with history? “In Scene – German History in Feature Film” is the name of the exhibition in Bonn’s “House of History” from June 9 until January 15, 2017. The curators have set it up in seven rooms matching as many chapters of history, showing how in the past 70 years, directors have addressed the Holocaust, World War II, resistance to Nazi Germany, flight and expulsion, the economic miracle, leftist terrorism in West Germany, and East Germany and its state security…more detail
Fact and fiction: German films and history
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