Asia Cureton
Asia is a senior at UC Santa Barbara studying English and German. When she's not reading, she's usually watching movies.
German Unity Day
The Lives of Others
(Das Leben der Anderen)
Before the fall of the Berlin Wall, East Germany's secret police listened to your secrets.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Germany • 2006
- Director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
- Cast Martina Gedeck, Ulrich Mühe, Sebastian Koch, Ulrich Tukur, Thomas Thieme, Hans-Uwe Bauer
- Genre Drama, Thriller
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube
The Baader Meinhof Complex
(Der Baader Meinhof Komplex)
The children of the Nazi generation vowed fascism would never rule their world again.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Germany, France, Czech Republic • 2008
- Director Uli Edel
- Cast Martina Gedeck, Moritz Bleibtreu, Johanna Wokalek, Nadja Uhl, Stipe Erceg, Niels-Bruno Schmidt
- Genre Action, Crime, Drama, History, Thriller
- Available on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Tubi TV, The Roku Channel, Pluto TV, Freevee, Hoopla, Plex, Plex Channel
Good Bye, Lenin!
The German Democratic Republic lives on -- in 79 square meters!
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- Germany • 2003
- Director Wolfgang Becker
- Cast Daniel Brühl, Katrin Sass, Chulpan Khamatova, Maria Simon, Florian Lukas, Alexander Beyer
- Genre Comedy, Drama
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube
Wings of Desire
(Der Himmel über Berlin)
There are angels on the streets of Berlin.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- West Germany, France • 1987
- Director Wim Wenders
- Cast Bruno Ganz, Otto Sander, Solveig Dommartin, Curt Bois, Peter Falk, Hans Martin Stier
- Genre Drama, Fantasy, Romance
- Available on Criterion Channel, Max Amazon Channel, Max, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube
Weissensee
Romeo and Juliet meets the communist East Berlin of the 1980s.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Germany • 2010
- Creator Friedemann Fromm
- Cast Florian Lukas, Uwe Kockisch, Jörg Hartmann, Ruth Reinecke, Katrin Sass, Anna Loos
- Genre Drama
- Available on Amazon Video, Hoopla
Barbara
A Story of Love and Subterfuge with Simmering Intelligence.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Germany • 2012
- Director Christian Petzold
- Cast Nina Hoss, Ronald Zehrfeld, Jasna Fritzi Bauer, Mark Waschke, Rainer Bock, Alicia von Rittberg
- Genre Drama
- Available on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Kino Film Collection, Apple TV, Amazon Video, Kanopy, Hoopla
Deutschland 83
A young spy comes of age in the divided Germany of 1983 where everyone is hiding something.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Germany • 2015
- Creator Anna Winger
- Cast Jonas Nay, Maria Schrader
- Genre Drama
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Amazon Video, Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
Never Look Away
(Werk ohne Autor)
A young West German art student in love must grapple with his past, and that of his family and his country.
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- Germany, Italy • 2018
- Director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
- Cast Tom Schilling, Sebastian Koch, Paula Beer, Saskia Rosendahl, Oliver Masucci, Lars Eidinger
- Genre Drama, History, Thriller
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube, Spectrum On Demand
After Winter Comes Spring
(Winter adé)
Helke Misselwitz travels from one end of the GDR to the other to interview women of all backgrounds and ages.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- East Germany • 1989
- Director Helke Misselwitz
- Cast Helke Misselwitz
- Genre Documentary
- Available on DocAlliance Films, Kanopy
Suspiria
A darkness swirls at the center of a world-renowned dance company.
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- Italy, United States • 2018
- Director Luca Guadagnino
- Cast Dakota Johnson, Tilda Swinton, Mia Goth, Angela Winkler, Ingrid Caven, Elena Fokina
- Genre Horror, Fantasy
- Available on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Microsoft Store, YouTube, Freevee
The Legend of Paul and Paula
(Die Legende von Paul und Paula)
A married bureaucrat and a single mother of two fall in love in this infamous tragicomedy.
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- East Germany • 1973
- Director Heiner Carow
- Cast Angelica Domröse, Winfried Glatzeder, Heidemarie Wenzel, Fred Delmare, Rolf Ludwig, Käthe Reichel
- Genre Drama, Romance
- Available on Kanopy
We Are Young. We Are Strong.
(Wir sind jung. Wir sind stark.)
A nation united leaves a city divided.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Germany • 2014
- Director Burhan Qurbani
- Cast Devid Striesow, Jonas Nay, Trang Le Hong, Joel Basman
- Genre Drama
- Available on No streaming locations found.
World Philosophy Day 2020: Marxism
The Baader Meinhof Complex
(Der Baader Meinhof Komplex)
The children of the Nazi generation vowed fascism would never rule their world again.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Germany, France, Czech Republic • 2008
- Director Uli Edel
- Cast Martina Gedeck, Moritz Bleibtreu, Johanna Wokalek, Nadja Uhl, Stipe Erceg, Niels-Bruno Schmidt
- Genre Action, Crime, Drama, History, Thriller
- Available on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Tubi TV, The Roku Channel, Pluto TV, Freevee, Hoopla, Plex, Plex Channel
Good Bye, Lenin!
The German Democratic Republic lives on -- in 79 square meters!
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- Germany • 2003
- Director Wolfgang Becker
- Cast Daniel Brühl, Katrin Sass, Chulpan Khamatova, Maria Simon, Florian Lukas, Alexander Beyer
- Genre Comedy, Drama
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube
The Young Karl Marx
(Le jeune Karl Marx)
A friendship that changed the world.
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- France, Belgium, Germany • 2017
- Director Raoul Peck
- Cast August Diehl, Stefan Konarske, Vicky Krieps, Olivier Gourmet, Hannah Steele, Rolf Kanies
- Genre History, Drama
- Available on fuboTV, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube, Crackle, VUDU Free, Freevee, Kanopy, Plex Channel
Together
(Tillsammans)
Elisabeth leaves her abusive husband to join her brother’s leftist commune in Stockholm.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Sweden, Denmark, Italy • 2000
- Director Lukas Moodysson
- Cast Lisa Lindgren, Michael Nyqvist, Emma Samuelsson, Sam Kessel, Gustaf Hammarsten, Anja Lundqvist
- Genre Comedy, Drama, Romance
- Available on AMC+ Amazon Channel, Apple TV, Amazon Video
Persepolis
The downfall of the Iranian Shah is just the start of Marjane Satrapi's struggle for freedom and belonging.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- France, United States • 2007
- Director Marjane Satrapi
- Cast Chiara Mastroianni, Danielle Darrieux, Catherine Deneuve, Simon Abkarian, Gabrielle Lopes Benites, François Jerosme
- Genre Animation, Drama
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube, Spectrum On Demand
Machuca
Two schoolboys observe a political coup in their native Chile.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Chile, Spain, United Kingdom • 2004
- Director Andrés Wood
- Cast Matías Quer, Ariel Mateluna, Aline Küppenheim, Ernesto Malbran, Federico Luppi, Manuela Martelli
- Genre Drama
- Available on Fandor, Kanopy
Something in the Air
(Après Mai)
In the aftermath of May '68, a group of young Europeans try to continue the revolutions they believe are just beginning.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- France • 2012
- Director Olivier Assayas
- Cast Clément Métayer, Lola Créton, Felix Armand, Carole Combes, Bobbi Salvör Menuez, Hugo Conzelmann
- Genre Romance, Drama
- Available on MUBI, MUBI Amazon Channel, AMC+, AMC+ Amazon Channel, AMC+ Roku Premium Channel, AMC Plus Apple TV Channel , IFC Films Unlimited Apple TV Channel, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Amazon Video, YouTube, Kanopy
The Gospel According to Matthew
(Il vangelo secondo Matteo)
A retelling of the story of Christ.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Italy, France • 1965
- Director Pier Paolo Pasolini
- Cast Enrique Irazoqui, Margherita Caruso, Susanna Pasolini, Marcello Morante, Mario Socrate, Settimio Di Porto
- Genre History, Drama
- Available on Fandor Amazon Channel, Criterion Channel, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube, Tubi TV, Freevee, Cineverse, Kanopy, Hoopla, Plex, Plex Channel
The Motorcycle Diaries
(Diarios de motocicleta)
Before he changed the world, the world changed him.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Argentina, United States, Chile • 2004
- Director Walter Salles
- Cast Gael García Bernal, Rodrigo de la Serna, Mercedes Morán, Mía Maestro, Jean Pierre Noher
- Genre Drama
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube
The Battle of Algiers
(La battaglia di Algeri)
The revolt that stirred the world!
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Algeria, Italy • 1966
- Director Gillo Pontecorvo
- Cast Brahim Hadjadj, Jean Martin, Yacef Saadi, Ugo Paletti, Fusia El Kader, Samia Kerbash
- Genre Drama, History, War
- Available on Criterion Channel, Max Amazon Channel, Max, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube, Kanopy
Peterloo
A drama about the infamous 1819 Manchester massacre
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- United Kingdom • 2018
- Director Mike Leigh
- Cast Rory Kinnear, Maxine Peake, Pearce Quigley, David Moorst, Rachel Finnegan, Tom Meredith
- Genre History, Drama
- Available on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Freevee
Pride
Gay activists and mine workers form an unlikely partnership to fight for their rights in 1980s London.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- United Kingdom, France • 2014
- Director Matthew Warchus
- Cast Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton, Dominic West, Paddy Considine, Andrew Scott, George MacKay
- Genre Drama, Comedy
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube, Hoopla
Parasite
(기생충)
A poor family lies and schemes their way into the employ of a wealthy household — successfully, but with great consequences.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Korea • 2019
- Director Bong Joon-ho
- Cast Song Kang-ho, Lee Sun-kyun, Cho Yeo-jeong, Choi Woo-shik, Park So-dam, Chang Hyae-jin
- Genre Comedy, Drama, Thriller
- Available on Max, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube, Spectrum On Demand
The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner
A rebellious youth is chosen to compete in a race against his school's rivals. However, he has other plans.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- United Kingdom • 1962
- Director Tony Richardson
- Cast Michael Redgrave, Tom Courtenay, Avis Bunnage, Alec McCowen, James Bolam, Joe Robinson
- Genre Drama
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube, Tubi TV, Freevee, Hoopla
Weekend
(Week End)
A bourgeoisie couple's weekend getaway to the French countryside goes bizarrely awry.
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- France, Italy • 1967
- Director Jean-Luc Godard
- Cast Mireille Darc, Jean Yanne, Jean-Pierre Léaud, Jean-Pierre Kalfon, Valérie Lagrange, Juliet Berto
- Genre Adventure, Comedy, Drama
- Available on Criterion Channel, Max Amazon Channel, Max
Youth
(芳华)
Love, lust, and war during the tumultuous time of the Cultural Revolution in China.
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- China • 2017
- Director Feng Xiaogang
- Cast Huang Xuan, Miao Miao, Elane Zhong, Yang Caiyu, Li Xiaofeng, Wang Tianchen
- Genre Drama, History, Music
- Available on Fandor, Fandor Amazon Channel, OVID, Apple TV, Fandango At Home
Films I need to watch
Perfect Blue
(パーフェクトブルー)
A retired pop singer starts to lose her hold on reality when she is stalked by an obsessive fan.
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- Japan • 1998
- Director Satoshi Kon
- Cast Junko Iwao, Rica Matsumoto, Shinpachi Tsuji, Masaaki Ōkura, Yōsuke Akimoto, Yoku Shioya
- Genre Animation, Thriller
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube
Audre Lorde: The Berlin Years 1984-1992
(Audre Lorde - Die Berliner Jahre 1984-1992)
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Germany • 2012
- Director Dagmar Schultz
- Cast Audre Lorde, May Ayim, Ika Hügel-Marshall, Ria Cheatom, Katharina Oguntoye
- Genre Documentary
- Available on No streaming locations found.