Three feature films from Eastern Europe, reflecting the social changes in the Czech Republic, Kazakhstan and Georgia since the collapse of the Eastern Bloc, are currently available on ZDF Mediathek:
Tragicomedy "Nationalstraße" National Road
Štěpán Altrichter Czech Republic, Germany, 2019, 90 min
--> won the "Cottbus into Cinema Award" and the "Audience Award" at the FFC in 2019.
Life doesn't love Vandam, but he loves his regular pub and especially its owner Lucka. When he finds out that Lucka is in debt and that the pub will soon have to close, he sets out to fight the realtor guy who, in his eyes, is to blame for everything. A comedy with wordplay and depth that keeps you laughing.
The film can be seen here.
"Poka heißt Tschüss auf Russisch" Poka means goodbye in Russian
Anna Hoffmann Germany, Kazakhstan , 2014, 94 min.--> ran in 2014 in the youth film competition
Shortly after the fall of the Wall, Georg and Lena come to Germany as ethnic German immigrants from Kazakhstan. Their hope for a better life in the golden West is confronted with harsh reality, their relationship put to the test. A film about love in times of great social upheaval.
The fim can be seen here.
"Meine glückliche Familie My Happy Family
Nana Ekvtimishvili, Germany/Georgia, 2016.
Tells the story of teacher Manana (Ia Shugliashvili), who is conflicted between her family and her personal freedom. The morning after her 52nd birthday, she suddenly moves out of the shared apartment where three generations crowd into three rooms. She wants to live alone, leaving behind her parents, husband (Merab Ninidze) and children. The film reflects the lives of an entire generation of women in patriarchal Georgia who never had the opportunity to really make their own decisions.
The film will be available in the ZDF Mediathek from Sunday, March 20.
Source: ZDF