German Movies to Improve Your Language Skills
Let your mind wander to a time when you’ve worked tirelessly all week and the weekend has finally arrived. As soon as you reach home, you change into comfy clothes and collapse into the sofa, giving your German lessons the cold shoulder. But what if I told you that you could take advantage of this opportunity to do more than just relax? Prepare some popcorn and dim the lights; it’s movie night, and you’re going to pick up some German in the theatre.
A movie is a great place to start if you’re just starting off since it’s so simple to use. You will have a great time watching these classic German films with or without subtitles since many of them have speech that is easy to understand. When watching these films, you may easily be swept away by the narratives and forget that you’re really gaining knowledge.
To what extent, however, does it succeed? What about viewing movies? Could it help you learn German? It has been shown in research conducted in 2016 that using subtitles is an effective method of enhancing language learning, therefore it makes sense to watch films dubbed in German in order to improve your listening comprehension.
Nevertheless, seeing films in German might have a more far-reaching effect on your studies than merely improving your understanding. You probably already know that there are anywhere from fifty to two hundred and fifty different varieties of German. One of the most effective methods to learn the language is to watch films made in Germany.
Watching German films is a great method to learn about German culture and improve cultural fluency. Watching German films is a great way to keep the conversation going with your German pals. You may learn a lot about a movie to talk about with your friends afterward, from the themes and plots to the actors and celebrities.
So, you’ve chosen to watch a German film and have prepared your favorite jammies and a bowl of popcorn. But…
Top 10 German movies for Learning German
“Run Lola Run” (Lola rennt) (1998)
Manni, the hero’s lover, and a small-time thief call Lola to tell her that he’s misplaced his boss’s money. In the film, Lola’s boyfriend’s life hangs in the balance as she races against the clock to earn 100,000 German marks. The film presents three alternate interpretations of the tale, each of which explores a different scenario in which Lola acquires the necessary funds and experiences the resulting consequences.
Franka Potente plays Lola, and Moritz Bleibtreu plays her lover Manni, in this unusual German thriller. As a contender for the Golden Lion, Run Lola Run premiered at the Venice Film Festival.
Watching this film is the best way to see Berlin and get a taste of the local language, Berlinerisch. It’s a thrilling, high-tempo masterpiece with excellent accompaniment. And it just so happens to be my all-time favorite German film.
“Downfall” (Der Untergang) (2004)
Bruno Ganz, who is widely believed to have studied recordings of Hitler to perfect his accent for the role, does an outstanding job with the Austrian accent in this film.
The film Downfall takes a close look at Hitler’s last 10 days of life and depicts the narrative in all its terrible, bleak detail. You’ll be on the edge of your seat during this excellent, controversial depiction of Hitler. While the film’s gloomy tone isn’t for everyone, history buffs and fans of dramatic fare should not miss it.
“The White Ribbon” (Das weiße Band) (2009)
Staying on the dramatic track, this film is directed by one of Europe’s most acclaimed filmmakers, Michael Haneke. Haneke claims that his film, set in a tiny village in northern Germany shortly before World War I, is “about the foundations of evil,” tackling weighty themes such as religion, power, and murder.
The film’s gloomy tone and bleak perspective on society and family make it hard to watch, despite its stunning visuals and elegant dialogue. If, on the other hand, you like films that are both emotionally engaging and rousing, you will adore this one. It will take you step-by-step through the tragic chain of events that begins to threaten this sleepy Protestant village. This black-and-white drama is great for those just beginning their study of German since the dialogue is straightforward and the characters talk slowly and clearly.
“The Lives of Others” (Das Leben der Anderen) (2006)
The protagonist of this political drama thriller is Stasi Captain Gerd Weisler, who is tasked with spying on dramatist Georg Dreyman. It takes place in East Germany after the fall of the Berlin Wall and analyses daily life in the region under communist rule.
As the novel progresses, Wiesler develops feelings for the people he is tasked with spying on, and his eventual disillusionment with the East German government’s deceptive techniques makes everything plain to him. Because of its widespread popularity in Germany, this Academy Award-winning film may serve as a great discussion starter and can help you improve your grasp of the German language.
“Good Bye Lenin!” (2003)
This is the perfect film whether you’re the humorous sort or if you’re simply in the mood to have a good time. Alex’s mother had a heart attack and went into a coma in October 1989, just before the Berlin Wall came down. She was a staunch supporter of the Socialist Unity Party of East Germany. Germany had already become a completely capitalist nation by the time she awakens, complete with grocery chains, Pepsi ads, and numerous immigrants from West Germany.
The doctor then tells Alex that if his mother experiences any more shocks, she may have another heart attack. Given this, Alex has to resort to all kinds of ridiculous measures to shield his sick mother from the ever-shifting environment. Farewell, Lenin! The greatest European film of 2003, this comedy is a great way to see the city of Berlin and its unique dialect and culture.
“Nowhere in Africa” (Nirgendwo in Afrika) (2001)
This Oscar winner tells the gloomy but interesting tale of a Jewish family who escape Nazi Germany in 1938 and strive to start a new life on a farm in Kenya. The film is informative about German culture outside of Europe and shows the difficulties of moving to a new nation, particularly one as diverse as East Africa.
The family is torn between the life they left behind in Germany and the reality they face in Kenya, and they try their best to build a new life while adjusting to their new surroundings. Whoever like history, and particularly those who are interested in Jewish refugees and World War II, should see this film. The majority of the video is conducted in straightforward, understandable German, making it an excellent viewing selection for language students.
“The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant” (Die Bitteren Tränen der Petra von Kant) (1972)
This West German classic is often recommended as a great way to get started with the country’s film industry. The film chronicles the life of the very self-absorbed Petra von Kant and takes place exclusively inside her mansion. A film adaptation of Rainer Werner Fassibender’s play, the film is a poisonous yet fascinating paradise of envy, hatred, and narcissism that takes place entirely inside Petra’s house and is directed by the legendary Fassibender.
Captivating and interesting, Fassibender shows how Petra’s damaged mentality drives her to inflict mental anguish on her maid, Marlene, and how Petra is desperately falling in love with the beautiful but destitute Karin. Petra’s clothing and hairstyles are excellent indicators of her emotional condition throughout the film’s four acts. The movie will also help you master another German dialect thanks to Karin’s adorable Bavarian accent.
“Revanche” (2008)
This Oscar-nominated Austrian thriller tells the tale of a Viennese ex-con named Alex and a Ukrainian prostitute named Tamara who run away from Vienna to start a new life together.
Alex attempts to steal a bank to fund their scheme, but the attempt is unsuccessful. You won’t want to take your eyes off the screen as you watch this moving drama about guilt and redemption set in beautiful Austria. If you’re interested in learning more about German dialects, this film will offer you a taste of the Austrian variety.
“Soul Kitchen” (2009)
Zinos, a Greek-German, runs a little restaurant in Hamburg, and his life is the subject of this comedic film. Zino has a slipped disc without health insurance, his brother has just been freed from jail, and his fiancée, a journalist on assignment in Shanghai, all contribute to the restaurant’s dire financial situation. The brilliant ensemble brings these individual tales to life in a hilarious comedy.
In spite of the fact that the German in this film isn’t the simplest, it’s probably not a bad idea to expand your linguistic horizons by seeing something with a more authentic, contemporary accent. Also, beyond the more intuitive food and relationships, the discussion of money and health will definitely increase your vocabulary.
“The Baader Meinhof Complex” (Der Baader Meinhof Komplex) (2008)
This film is an exciting version of Stefan Aust’s book, which follows the formation and early years of the notorious far-left militant organization Red Army Faction from 1967 to 1977. If you want your movies to have a lot of action and suspense, this one will not disappoint.
It shows the bold political acts taken by young people after the end of Nazism who came to the conclusion that American imperialism is no different from fascism. You may learn a lot of slang vocabulary and get some background on the contentious history of the RAF in Germany (for which the film was nominated for an Oscar).
