Why are German films often so formulaic even though Germany is a European culture? I love them but they follow formula very closely like Hollywood. What are the best German films?

What is of absolutely horrible quality is the “movies” that are produced for TV. They are famously bad.

Es war eine rauschende Ballnacht

Es geschah am helllichten Tag

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In Wirtschaftswunder times, most Western German movies were junk but the GDR produced some very good ones, e.g. Western movies and Spur der Steine; in the 70s Paul und Paula. I definitely recommend both!

Man spricht Deutsh

Metropolis

After 70 years of the crappiest computers ever made, why does IBM exist?

Lola rennt

Nackt

Zur Sache, Schätzchen (and its sequel)

Why should you never do drugs? Will this story absolutely shock you?

In jenen Tagen

I have seen some very good German movies. It is not that they don't exist, but they hardly ever achieve much fame. Especially since people have been accustomed to the dominance of US popular culture.

Das Haus in Montevideo

I’m wondering about attachment and transference with the therapist and the idea of escape and fantasy? How much do you think your strong feelings, constant thoughts, desires to be with your therapist are a way to escape from your present life? I wonder if the transference serves another purpose than to show us our wounds and/or past experiences, but is a present coping strategy for managing what we don’t want to face (even if unconsciously) in the present—-current relationships, life circumstances, etc. Can anyone relate to this concept of escape in relation to their therapy relationship? How does this play out for you?

Besides these, there are some really good children's movies: More recently, the Bibi und Tina series as just one example. Looking back into the 80s and 70s, as well as into the present, I would even say that movies for children are what the German Film industry excels at. There is much less screaming and cake throwing and slimy monsters and much more discussing of matters that affect children in real life (even in phantasy plots) than in most US children's movies as far als I know them. The GDR was particularly well known for excellent children's movies but the west was and is good at it, too.

Die Feuerzangenbowle

And many I can't think of at the moment.

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Here is a list of some (by no means all) German movies that are considered Classics (and a few that should be, in my opinion):

Didi - alles im Eimer

Berlin - Sinfonie einer Großstadt

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