“Die Blumen von gestern” (Yesterday’s flowers) is a comical film about a Holocaust scholar whose own relatives had been prominent perpetrators during the Third Reich. He gets upset when a conference about Auschwitz is turned into a media event – until he meets a French student whose grandmother was murdered in a concentration camp. The film opens Thursday in German cinemas. Director Chris Kraus told DW about the film’s reception in Japan – and why the Holocaust could happen again. DW: The film “Die Blumen von gestern” recently premiered at the international film festivals in Hof, Germany, and Tokyo, Japan. It is now being released in German cinemas. Historically speaking, Japan and Germany have some things in common, though Japan doesn’t deal with its past as openly as Germany does. What were the reactions to the film at the festival in Tokyo? Chris Kraus: We were very glad that the film was shown because Tokyo is an A-list festival. But of course you can think, what does a film about the Holocaust have to do with Japan? A lot, actually. But I didn’t learn exactly how much until I was there. Journalists and audience members asked me why I made the film in the way that I did. During fascism, the history of Germany and Japan had a lot to do with each other: They formed an axis together. Nearly every conversation I had with the Japanese began with: “You Germans do a great job at working through your history.”…more detail
Why a German Holocaust comedy was a hit in Japan
Recommended stories
- Kino favorites: Top 10 German dramas
Film Kino favorites: Top 10 German dramas #10: Young Törless In 1966, Volker Schlöndorff filmed "Young Törless" based on a novel by Robert Musil. The drama about a young student at an Austrian military academy shot actor Mathieu Carrière to stardom - and turned the director into a specialist for literary film adaptations. In Schlöndorff's film, Carrière played a young man caught between adolescence and morality, rebellion and desire. Kino favorites: Top 10 German dramas #8: The Bridge Just 15 years after the end of World War II, Bernhard Wicki presented an excellent anti-war film with "The Bridge." The story…... [read more]
- Germany's most unique film festival marks 50th anniversary - without the man who made it great
Hof International Film Festival may not be the largest in Germany, or the oldest. But it's definitely the festival with the most cult potential. The slogan "Hof: Home of Films" has managed to ingrain itself in the consciousness of the movie scene and accurately represents the annual event held in the tiny Bavarian village. Hof lives and breathes German film. Located rurally in the central-easternmost corner of Germany, close to the Czech border, Hof is not exactly a whirring hub of activity. Nevertheless, it's home to Germany's most original and significant film festival. Technically speaking, the Hof International Film Festival…... [read more]
- Why Trump could put a dagger in 'The Great Wall'
The Americans and the Chinese came up with a good plan. To increase global revenues, production companies from both countries got together for the massive, $150-million film. "The Great Wall" is ringing in a new era in the film industry. Both countries are meant to profit in this win-win situation: Hollywood stands to benefit from gaining a key to the gigantic Chinese market, which is the second largest in the world. For China, collaboration with the US is a pivotal step toward becoming a global player in the film industry. But the release of "The Great Wall" roughly coincides with…... [read more]
- Revealed: mass faintings in Cambodian factories supplying Nike and Puma
Women working in Cambodian sportswear factories supplying some of the world’s best-known brands are suffering mass faintings, the Observer can reveal. Over five months, more than 500 workers in four factories supplying to Nike, Puma, Asics and VF Corporation, were hospitalised. The worst episode involved 360 workers who collapsed over three consecutive days. The incidents, part of a widespread pattern of faintings that has dogged Cambodia’s 600,000-strong, mostly female garment workforce for years, were confirmed by the brands. A journey across four continents: Danziger's tales from Cambodia | Rory MacLean Read more Workers said they feared for their lives in…... [read more]
- Cambodian female workers in Nike, Asics and Puma factories suffer mass faintings
Women working in Cambodian factories supplying some of the world’s best-known sportswear brands are suffering from repeated mass faintings linked to conditions. Over the past year more than 500 workers in four factories supplying to Nike, Puma, Asics and VF Corporation were hospitalised. The most serious episode, recorded over three days in November, saw 360 workers collapse. The brands confirmed the incidents, part of a pattern of faintings that has dogged the 600,000-strong mostly female garment workforce for years. A journey across four continents: Danziger's tales from Cambodia | Rory MacLean Read more The Observer and Danwatch, a Danish investigative…... [read more]
- England explore opportunity of possible All Blacks clash this autumn (From Keighley News)
England are exploring the possibility of staging a mouth-watering showdown against New Zealand this autumn. In a frustrating quirk of the international schedule, the game’s top two teams are not scheduled to meet until late next year, but Press Association Sport understands November 4 is now being examined as a possible window for an additional fixture. The All Blacks are due to face the Barbarians at Twickenham on that date and the Rugby Football Union believes a fourth autumn international – games against Australia, Argentina and Samoa form the current line-up – could be agreed. Who did Eddie Jones jokingly…... [read more]
- England explore opportunity of possible All Blacks clash this autumn (From The Argus)
England are exploring the possibility of staging a mouth-watering showdown against New Zealand this autumn. In a frustrating quirk of the international schedule, the game’s top two teams are not scheduled to meet until late next year, but Press Association Sport understands November 4 is now being examined as a possible window for an additional fixture. The All Blacks are due to face the Barbarians at Twickenham on that date and the Rugby Football Union believes a fourth autumn international – games against Australia, Argentina and Samoa form the current line-up – could be agreed. Who did Eddie Jones jokingly…... [read more]
- England explore opportunity of possible All Blacks clash this autumn (From Wiltshire Times)
England are exploring the possibility of staging a mouth-watering showdown against New Zealand this autumn. In a frustrating quirk of the international schedule, the game’s top two teams are not scheduled to meet until late next year, but Press Association Sport understands November 4 is now being examined as a possible window for an additional fixture. The All Blacks are due to face the Barbarians at Twickenham on that date and the Rugby Football Union believes a fourth autumn international – games against Australia, Argentina and Samoa form the current line-up – could be agreed. Who did Eddie Jones jokingly…... [read more]
- England explore opportunity of possible All Blacks clash this autumn (From Bucks Free Press)
England are exploring the possibility of staging a mouth-watering showdown against New Zealand this autumn. In a frustrating quirk of the international schedule, the game’s top two teams are not scheduled to meet until late next year, but Press Association Sport understands November 4 is now being examined as a possible window for an additional fixture. The All Blacks are due to face the Barbarians at Twickenham on that date and the Rugby Football Union believes a fourth autumn international – games against Australia, Argentina and Samoa form the current line-up – could be agreed. Who did Eddie Jones jokingly…... [read more]
- England explore opportunity of possible All Blacks clash this autumn (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)
England are exploring the possibility of staging a mouth-watering showdown against New Zealand this autumn. In a frustrating quirk of the international schedule, the game’s top two teams are not scheduled to meet until late next year, but Press Association Sport understands November 4 is now being examined as a possible window for an additional fixture. The All Blacks are due to face the Barbarians at Twickenham on that date and the Rugby Football Union believes a fourth autumn international – games against Australia, Argentina and Samoa form the current line-up – could be agreed. Who did Eddie Jones jokingly…... [read more]
Leave a Reply