10.10.2025

Brush Up Your German – Movie Edition (Part 2) đŸŽŹđŸ‡©đŸ‡Ș

Brush Up Your German – Movie Edition (Part 2) đŸŽŹđŸ‡©đŸ‡Ș

There are so many fun ways to brush up on your German — from apps and podcasts to videos, songs, and books. Anything that gets you listening, speaking, or reading more will help you make progress. (Find more learning tips on our website!)
A little while ago, we shared our first Top Ten list of German movies and TV series — and your feedback was fantastic. So, as promised, here’s part two!
This time, we’re focusing on more recent German productions that are definitely worth watching. Check out Vu’s selection of films and series released between 2014 and 2018 — a great mix of stories, styles, and insights into German culture and history.
Our list of newer favorites (2019–2025) is already in the works — so stay tuned!

Enjoy watching — or as we like to say: Binge up your German! 😉
(In alphabetical order)

Babylon Berlin (2017)
Based on Volker Kutscher’s novel Der nasse Fisch, this captivating series dives into Berlin’s nightlife of the late 1920s, blending political tension, crime, and post-war trauma.

Gundermann (2018)
A moving biopic about GDR singer-songwriter Gerhard Gundermann, a man full of contradictions — a devoted communist, a mine worker, and a Stasi informant.

In den GĂ€ngen (2018)
A quiet, touching story about a supermarket worker in Berlin. Thomas Stuber’s beautifully shot film captures loneliness, resilience, and small moments of human connection.

Mackie Messer – Brechts Dreigroschenfilm (2018)
A modern, imaginative take on Brecht’s classic Threepenny Opera. Joachim Lang’s version reimagines a never-realized film adaptation — a creative “what if” scenario blending Brecht’s original text and Kurt Weill’s iconic music.

Deutschland 83 (2015)
Arguably one of the best German TV shows of recent years. The series follows a young East German soldier sent to the West as a spy, offering sharp insights into Cold War politics and divided loyalties.

Das schweigende Klassenzimmer (2018)
Based on true events, this film tells the story of East German students showing solidarity with Hungarian revolutionaries in 1956 — a simple act of protest that changes their lives.

Tschick (2016)
Fatih Akin’s heartwarming adaptation of Wolfgang Herrndorf’s novel Tschick follows two teenage outsiders on a summer road trip. A funny, tender, and deeply human coming-of-age story.

Vier Könige (2015)
A small gem of a film — four teenagers spending Christmas in a psychiatric clinic slowly rediscover trust, hope, and friendship under the guidance of an unconventional psychiatrist.

Wir sind jung. Wir sind stark. (2014)
Visually stunning and deeply powerful, this black-and-white film (with a surprising color ending) tells the story of disillusioned post-reunification youth, leading up to the xenophobic riots in Rostock in 1992.

 

Stay tuned for our list of more recent films from 2019 -2025! Coming soon!