MY GERMAN FRIEND

2012 Germany/Argentina
A german-argentinian co-production between Malena Filmproduktion, Ricardo Freixá, Geißendörfer Film-und Fernsehproduktion and WDR

With the support of Film- und Medienstiftung NRW, HessenInvestFilm, Deutscher Filmförderfonds, BKM, FFA, Instituto Nacional de Cine y Arte (INCAA)

Feature film, Digital/ 35 mm. 1:1,85,  100 min
Shooting Locations: Germany and Argentina

Summary:
Sulamit, the daughter of German-Jewish emigrants from Germany, grows up in Buenos Aires in the fifties. Between her and Friedrich, the German boy living next door whose parents escaped to Argentina after the war, a deep intimacy and kinship develops. When Friedrich realizes that his father was an SS Lieutenant Colonel in Nazi Germany, he breaks off all contact with his family and goes to Germany to study. Sulamit follows him a few years later. Friedrich takes an active part in the German protest movement of May ’68. Gradually his whole life centers on his political commitment. His desperate efforts to repair the damage that’s been done leave no room for a love relationship. He finally leaves Germany to join an Argentinian guerilla movement. His very first military action leads to his arrest. Sulamit remains in Germany, gets her master’s degree and  works as a translator. She starts a relationship with Michael, a man who loves her and supports her with her career. But to her he is more of a father figure and not the great love of her life. Sulamit visits Friedrich in a remote jail in Argentina, but he suppresses his feelings. Sulamit returns to Germany. When the dictatorship in Argentina finally falls, Friedrich is set free. He remains in Patagonia, living near an indigenous Mapuche settlement. Sulamit, now 43, once again travels to Argentina to meet Friedrich. This time their encounter is about to take a different turn.

2012

12th Festival of German Films in Buenos Aires /13-18.09 / ARG
BFI London / 10-21.10 / UK
Sao Paulo IFF / 19.10-1.11 / BZ
Hofer Filmtage / 23-28.10 / DE
Biberacher-Filmfestspiele / 31.10 / DE
Festival of Human rights in Tübingen / 22-28.11/ DE

2013

Miami International FF / 01-10.03 / US
Festival Internacional de cine de Punta del Este / 03-10.03 / UR
Vendome FF / 08-12.04 / FR
Boston Jewish FF / 10-21.04 / US
Toronto Jewish FF / 11-21.04 / CA
Beijing International FF / 16-23.04 / CN
JeonJu International Film Festival / 25.04-03.05 / KR
AUDI festival of German Films / 30.04-15.05 / AU
Innsbruck FF / June / AT
Fine Art FF / 25.09-10.10 / PR
CINEMAISSI / 18-20.10 / FI
Jewish UK FF / 1-14.11 / UK
Jerusalem Jewish Film Festival / 30.11-06.12 / IL

2014

UK Israel FF - Tel Aviv / 16-19.04 / IL
Festival of Tolerance - Zagreb Jewish Film Festival / 18-24.05 / HR
Dona I Cinema - Mujer y Cine - Woman & Film / 3-6.06 / ES

international distribution: Match Factory / german distribution: Neue Visionen.