East German Film Posters (Defa)

DEFA posters from 1969-1990/ Posters of Gdr (DDR) films

Update: Thanks to a wonderful intern I have managed to document all 1200 posters in the collection. Currently a site is being built to showcase the collection. At the same time, thanks to an old friend at Bauhaus, I got my hand on a copy of Posters of GDR-Films by Babett Stach. With this information I will be able to categorize the collection graphic artist.

This original collection was aquired in August 2006. As marketing design firm owner's my wife Steffi and I were first impressed by the sheer volume of this collection. It totals over 1200 original posters. Secondly, for the fact that Steffi was born and raised in the former East Germany we just could not pass up the oppurtunity to own this collection.

Going through the collection we have selected around 250 works which we believe to be landmark examples for an era of design that most people have never seen. I will post images to the collection over the next few months.

DEFA stands for Deutsche Film Aktiengesellschaft - the state-run East German film studios, where films were made from 1946 to 1990. This collection consists of film posters designed and printed specifically for east germany from 1969-1990.

If you like this lens please rate it by using the stars above and please leave feedback towards the bottom of the page in my "guestbook". Enjoy the tour.

Some background to The GDR Filmposter

by Karlheinz Borchert (first published in PLAKAT JOURNAL)

Image on the right - left west | right east

Despite similar prerequisites, no comparable modernist poster culture developed in the former GDR. For the first few years following World War II, the typical east German film poster did not differ from that of the West. (A sought-after graphic designer like Kurt Geffers could just as well have worked for the capitalist West.)

It was not until a diversity in style blossomed in Poland, after all a sister country, that the bulk of the GDR's graphic designers started producing more individual and liberal works. There were only few outstanding personalities in the early sixties. Such as Klaus Wittkugel, who was closely connected to the Bauhaus and created severe functional photographic posters for the film, Werner Klemke, a sensitive humorous draftsman and book designer, Peter Paul Weiss, Hans Baltzer or Paul Rosié. Most works, however, appear rather conventional and colorless.

Finally, in the mid-sixties, a name appeared that could not be overlooked in the east German film poster: Erhard Gruettner. His innumerable convincing and extremely modern designs were the exception until the political turning-point in the fall of 1989. Extremely sparing in the use of surface-area and motive, these posters often seem like they were spontaneously thrown on paper. The intellectual condensation of the film material always stands in the center of attraction and each poster gives a signal which forces the spectator to look.

Gruettner's works are clearly more up to date than the film posters by his best colleagues, including Klaus Segner, Ronald Paris, Heinz Handschick or Albrecht von Bodecker and they never quite fitted in with the ordinary film advertising in the GDR.

DEFA Collection 1

DEFA Film Posters 197/1200

DEFA Film Posters Collection 1
This collection showcases 197 of the 1200 posters in this collection. I will try to add collections on a regular basis. Enjoy the GDR/DDR and its East German Film Poster art.

Click here to view Collection 1

Great East German Stuff on Amazon

East German Design (Icons)

by: Ernst Hedler

Amazon Price: (as of 12/02/2009)

Vom Bauhaus bis Bitterfeld: 41 Jahre DDR-Design (German Edition)

Amazon Price: (as of 12/02/2009)

Gestalten fur die Serie: Design in der DDR 1949-1985 (German Edition)

by: Heinz Hirdina

Amazon Price: (as of 12/02/2009)

Das Mädchen im Atelier

Final Take: The Golden Age Of Movies

Original Title: Kinema no tenchi
Country: Japan 1986
Genre: Drama
Director: Yoji Yamada
Starring: Kichi Nakai, Narimi Arimori, Kiyoshi Atsumi, Keiko Matsuzaka
Print House: AG
Print: East German 1988, 23"x17" (59x43cm)

This nostalgic backward glance at the earliest days of Japanese talking pictures was originally titled Kinema no Tenchi. The year is 1933: Narimi Arimori plays a lovely young girl who is groomed for film stardom by director Ittoku Kishibe. Narimi's biggest obstacle is a lack of talent, but Kishibe sees to it that the girl is hired for minor roles so that she can glean experience. Her big break comes when she replaces the star of a major production. When time comes for a crucial emotional scene, Narimi finds she can't play her role convincingly and runs embarrassed from the set. At this point, the girl's father Kiyoshi Atsumi, himself a frustrated actor, tells his daughter a sad story concerning the truth of her parentage. Overcome with grief, Narima successfully pulls off her big dramatic scene and goes on to become a major Japanese star.
~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Films by Yoji Yamada on Amazon

Twilight Samurai

Amazon Price: (as of 12/02/2009)

The Hidden Blade

Amazon Price: $16.49 (as of 12/02/2009)

Zero Focus

Amazon Price: $17.99 (as of 12/02/2009)

Films by Yoji Yamada on eBay

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Die elf Schwäne (Metsluiged)

The Wild Swans

Original Title: Dikie lebedi
Country: Soviet Union 1988
Story: Hans Christian Andersen
Genre: Children
Director: Helle Karis
Starring: Katri Horma, Juris Zagars, Andris Zagars
Print House: AG
Print: East German 1988, 23"x17" (59x43cm)

Here amid wild Estonian nature, lives Princess Eliza who has to unselfishly knit capes from nettles with bare hands and otherwise sacrifice herself to save her 11 brothers who have been turned into swans by their wicked stepmother.

The film is based on the story of the same name by Hans Christian Andersen.

Wild Swans by Hans Christian Andersen on Amazon

The Wild Swans

by: H.C. Andersen, Atsuko Morozumi, Mathew Price

Amazon Price: (as of 12/02/2009)

Das rote Ahornblatt

Country: East Germany 1975
Genre: Children
Director: Ina Rarisch
Print House: AG
Print: East German 1988, 23"x17" (59x43cm)

New eBay

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Vampire Love (Wenn Vampire Lieben)

Title: Lubie Nietoperze
Director: Grzegorz Warchol
Country: Poland, 1985
Genre: Horror
Starring: Katarzyna Walter, Marek Barbasiewicz
Graphic Design:
Print: East German 1988
Size: 23 x 17 Inches (59 x 43 cm)

Izabela is an unusual young woman. During the day she works at her aunt's junk shop and at night she spends her time raising bats. Although Izabela has men all around her, few of them seem to get to know her. Those who do quickly learn that she is a true femme fatal - a true vampire.

Vampire Love film description (in German): This is a link to the film description.

Alexander Nevsky / Alexander Newski

Director: Sergej Eisenstein
Country: Russia, 1938
Genre: Epics
Starring: Cherkassov,
Graphic Design:
Print: East German 1978, 23"x17" (59x43cm)

Prince Nevsky defeats the invading Teutonic Knights on a frozen lake in the Thirteenth Century. A historical epic that blends images with music in dramatic battle scenes.

Alexander Nevsky: Some links to books about the movie.

Der Stille Don (And Quite Flows the Don)

Director: Sergei Gerassimow
Country: Soviet Union, 1957
Genre: Drama/War
Starring: Iljitschenko
Graphic Design:
Print: East German 1977, 23"x17" (59x43cm)

A six-hour long epic (original director's cut) about the life of Don Cossacs in a village in southern Russia between 1912 and 1922. The leading character Grigori Melekhov is a rugged Cossac, who is torn between his first and true love Aksiniya, and his wife Natalya. Grigori Melekhov's personal life is shown as a rough journey through the experience of World War One, the Russian Revolution, and the following Civil War. The Cossacs are shown as traditional farmers and warriors, who are suffering through the most dramatic events in the history of Russia.

Summary written by Steve Shelokhonov

And Quite Flows the Don: Some links to books about the movie.

Der Frosch mit der Maske (The Frog with the Mask)

Director: Harold Reinl
Country: West Germany/ Denmark, 1959
Genre: Thriller
Starring: Siegried Lowitz
Graphic Design:
Print: East German 1979, 23"x17" (59x43cm)

Both Scotland Yard and an amateur American sleuth are tracking a master criminal known as The Frog. This moniker refers to the bulging-eyed mask worn by the evildoer, and is reflected by the frog icons painfully tatooed onto the forearms of his henchmen. The trail leads to the country manor of an enigmatic, steely-eyed nabob, whose repressed son has eyes for the artistes at the Lolita cabaret, and whose lovely daughter captures the fancy of both the American playboy and the villain himself. Murder, kidnapping and seduction ensue.

Casanova, auf gepackten Koffern

Director: Dejan Karaklajic
Country: Yugoslavia, 1977
Genre: Thriller
Starring: Cvijeta Mesic, Predrag Bolpacic, Ljubisa Samardzic, Milena Dravic, Mica Tomic,
Music: Milivoj Markovic
Graphic Design:
Print: East German 1979, 23"x17" (59x43cm)

The Conversation (Der Dialog)

Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Country: USA, 1974
Genre: Thriller
Starring: Gene Hackman, John Cazale
Graphic Design:
Print: East German 1976, 23"x17" (59x43cm)

Harry Caul is a nationally known expert on surveillance. The Director of a large company has hired him to record the conversations of two of the Director's employees. Some years previous, Harry's work directly led to the murder of three people, and now he has reason to fear that it will happen again.

Georgien, Legende u. Wirklichkeit

Director: Georgi Assatiani
Country: Soviet Union
Genre: Thriller
Starring:
Graphic Design: Mahler
Print: East German 1974, 23"x17" (59x43cm)

Begegnung mit Gojko (An encounter with Gojko)

Director: Eckhard Potraffke
Country: East German, 1973
Genre: Indian/Children/Documentary
Starring:
Graphic Design:
Print: East German 1973, 23"x17" (59x43cm)

Ein Mädchen aus Schnee (A girl made of snow)

Director: Hannelore Unterberg
Country: East German, 1978
Genre: Children
Starring: Sebastian Kozik
Graphic Design:
Print: East German 1978, 23"x17" (59x43cm)

Schiffsjunge der Nordmeerflotte

Director: Wladmir Rogowoi
Country: Soviet Union, 1975
Genre: Children
Starring: Wassili Landwoi
Graphic Design:
Print: East German 1975, 23"x17" (59x43cm)

Das stumme Dossier

Director: Gyula Mészáros
Country: Hungary, 1977
Genre: Drama
Starring: István Bujtor, Adám Szirtes
Graphic Design:
Print: East German 1978, 23"x17" (59x43cm)

A serie of murders is comitted in Nice on the French riviera. The commissaire Carella is in charge and tries to find a missing link between all these murders.

Ohne besonderes Tatmotiv (Without Apparent Motive)

Director: Philippe Labro
Country: French/Italian, 1971
Genre: Drama
Music: Ennio Morricone
Starring: Sacha Distel, Jean-Louis Trintignant, Dominique Sanda, Paul Crauchet, Carla Gravina
Graphic Design:
Print: East German 1972, 23"x17" (59x43cm)

A series of murders are comitted in Nice on the French riviera. Commissioner Carella is in charge of the investigation and tries to find the missing link between all of them.

Music from Ennio Morricone

An Ennio Morricone Anthology: All Music Composed & Conducted By Ennio Morricone - From The EMI General Music Vaults

Amazon Price: $19.98 (as of 12/02/2009)

Theresa, Die Dieben (Teresa la ladra/Teresa the Thief )

Director: Carlo Di Palma
Country: Italian, 1972
Genre: Comedy
Music: Ennio Morricone
Starring: Monica Vitti
Graphic Design:
Print: East German 1979, 23"x17" (59x43cm)

"Teresa the Thief" takes the form of a rambling memoir, a long string of vignettes that lead nowhere in particular but are often individually charming. Raised by the strict father of her large, earthy family, Teresa turns into a burglar during World War II, and is jailed for her crimes. Later, when the Allied forces conquer Italy, she pleads for clemency, explaining that she broke a bust of Mussolini in the apartment she was caught robbing.
By JANET MASLIN May 6, 1979

Der Schatten des fliegenden Vogels (Shadow of a flying bird)

Original Title: Stin Letajiciho Ptacka
Director: Jaroslav Balík
Country: Czechoslovakia, 1977
Genre: Drama
Music:
Starring:Ilja Prachar
Graphic Design:
Print: East German 1978, 23"x17" (59x43cm)

After making love in the woods, a boy and his girlfriend have an accident while riding on his motorcycle. They were on their way to an elopement and an escape from the boy's parents. The boy is killed and his death has left an enormous hole in his parents' lives. They look up the girl, and, despite some initial hostility become friendly. When they discover that she has no particular kin or connections, they invite her to live with them. In this setting, they make further discoveries about one another. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide

Ganz wie zu Hause

Just Like at Home

Original Title: OLYAN, MINT OTTHON
Country: Hungary 1978
Genre: Drama
Director: Marta Meszaros
Starring: Anna Karina, Jan Nowicki
Print: East German 1979, 23"x17" (59x43cm)

When a wayward husband returns from America to his native Hungary, mostly because he was homesick, his former wife is not inclined to have him back in her life. He is swiftly embroiled, however, in the schemes of a pre-teen girl, who wants him for her father. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide

Das Geheimnis (The Secret)

Le Secret

Country: France/Italy 1974
Genre: Thriller
Director: Robert Enrico
Starring: Jean-Louis Trintignant, Marlène Jobert
Print House: PVW
Print: East German 1975, 23"x17" (59x43cm)

A stranger enters into and forever alters the life of a couple. He claims to be pursued by certain authorities who intend to prevent him from disclosing a secret that only he holds, whence the title. Is he lying, or insane - or is he telling the truth? Who, if anyone, is after him?

Der Dritte

The Third

Country: East Germany 1971
Director: Egon Günther
Poster Designer: Siegfried Kranl
Genre: Romantic Drama
Starring: Jutta Hoffmann, Barbara Dittus
Print: East German 1972, 23"x17" (59x43cm)

In this East German film, the third one in The Third is Margit's third lover. After her mother's death, Margit (Jutte Hoffman) has two affairs which don't work out, and one lesbian friendship which she retains. She is looking for a husband, though, and thinks she has spotted a candidate in her fellow factory worker (Rolf Ludwig). As she contemplates marrying him, her story is told in a series of flashbacks. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide

Her Third on DVD

Her Third

Amazon Price: $22.49 (as of 12/02/2009)

Asja - Eine unerfuellte Liebe

Asya

Country: Soviet Union 1977/78
Genre: Drama
Director: Iosif Kheifits / Jossif Cheifiz
Starring: Yelena Koreneva, Igor Kostolevsky
Print House: Franz Maecker
Print: East German 1978, 23"x17" (59x43cm)

Das Dach (The Roof)

Pokriv / %u041F%u043E%u043A%u0440%u0438%u0432

Country: Bulgaria 1978
Genre: Drama
Director: Iwan Andonow
Starring: Petr Slabakow, Pepa Nikolowa
Print House: Franz Maecker
Print: East German 1979, 23"x17" (59x43cm)

Kiril is a long-distance lorry driver. His one and only dream in life is to build a house for his family. To make his dream come true, he is indiscriminate in the way he takes advantages of his friends. He moonlights and takes up the most exhausting jobs. He even steals construction materials and uses the lorry to make money on the side. However, a most unexpected turn of events jolts his family life. An excitable gypsy woman comes into Kiril's life and he falls recklessly in love with her.

Ein stiller Amerikaner in Prag (A Quiet American in Prague)

Tichý American v Praze

Country: Czechoslovakia 1977
Genre: Crime
Director: Josef Mach
Starring: Barbara Brylska, Joseph Langmiler
Print House: Franz Maecker
Print: East German 1978, 23"x17" (59x43cm)

Gespenster (Nightmares)

Alpträume (West Germany)

Country: Poland 1977
Genre: Drama
Director: Wojciech Marczewski
Starring: Tomasz Hudziec
Print: East German 1980, 23"x17" (59x43cm)

Set before World War I in and area of Poland under Austrain occupation. The story stars young boy in primary school who later grows up to become a rebellious, poetic-minded teen in the same school where the national movement toward liberation is takes ground. The story is about a country where church amd state work together to suppress the human spirit.

Ein langer, langer Gerichtsfall

DLINNOJE, DLINNOJE DELO

Country: Soviet Union 1976
Genre: Crime
Director: Grigori Aronow, Wladimir Schredel
Music: Albert Preslenjew
Starring: Michail Glusski, Oleg Below
Print: East German 1977, 23"x17" (59x43cm)

Der Brunette erscheint am Abend (A Brunette Will Call)

Brunet wieczorow por

Country: Polish 1976
Genre: Comedy
Director: Stanislaw Bareja
Starring:Krzysztof Kowalewski, Wojciech Pokora
Artist: Handschick
Print: East German 1978, 23"x17" (59x43cm)

Modest editor, has shipped his wife and kids for the weekend, and is trying to relax in his house at the outskirts of Warsaw. His quiet evening is only disturbed by the accidental forecast made by a Gypsy woman, that at evening time he will murder a mysterious brunet. He is trying to escape the destiny, but to no avail...

Dora meldet

Dóra jelenti

Country: Hungary 1978
Genre:
Director: Róbert Bán
Starring: Gyula Bodrogi, Maria Ronyecz
Print House: Franz Maecker
Print: East German 1979, 23"x17" (59x43cm)

Das Fahrrad (The Bicycle)

Country: East Germny 1981
Genre: Drama
Director: Evelyn Schmidt
Poster Designer: Horst Klein
Starring: Heidemarie Schneider, Roman Kaminski
Music: Peter Rabenalt
Print: East German 1982, 23"x17" (59x43cm)

Susanne is a single mother who lives a somewhat carefree lifestyle. After quitting her job, she finds herself in deep financial trouble and attempts a minor fraud to make ends meet. GDR authorities were critical of this truthful portrayal and turned down all international venues for this film, now appreciated as a rare glimpse of everyday Socialism from a woman's perspective.

Pantelej

Country: Bulgaria 1978
Genre: Drams
Director: Georgi Stojanow
Starring: Konstantin Kozew, Dobrinka Stankowa
Music: Boshidar Petkow
Print House: ODR
Print: East German 1979, 23"x17" (59x43cm)

Einer von Ihnen ist der Mörder

Jeden Z Nich Je Vrah

Country: Czechoslovakia 1971
Genre: Crime/Drama
Director: Dusan Klein
Starring: Ilja Prachar, Zdenek Kutil
Print: East German 1971, 23"x17" (59x43cm)

Am Steuer der Feind (Mudroch's Wife)

Original Title: Za Volantem Nepritel
Country: Czechoslovakia 1974
Genre:
Director: Karel Steklý
Starring: Regina Rázlová, Petr Skarke
Music: Jan Seidel
Print House: ODR
Print: East German 1976, 23"x17" (59x43cm)

Der Eiserne Präfekt (Iron Prefect)

Original Title: Il prefetto di ferro
Country: Italy 1977
Genre: Action/Drama
Director: Pasquale Squitieri
Starring: Giuliano Gemma, Claudia Cardinale
Music: Ennio Morricone
Print House: Franz Maecker
Print: East German 1979, 23"x17" (59x43cm)

DEFA feedback

Although this lens is just a small part of the complete 1200 poster collection I would be happy to field comments, suggestions or just ruthless praise for the efforts that I am making.

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Some books about Posters of Gdr (DDR) films

Posters of Gdr-Films 1945-1990 (Film-Television-Sound Archive, Vol. 2)

by: Babett Stach, Helmut Morsbach

Amazon Price: (as of 12/02/2009)

Some sources for DEFA research in information

...not always in English

If you would like to view a short history of DEFA, Wikipedia has a good outline.

Deutsche Film-Aktiengesellschaft - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: Deutsche Film-Aktiengesellschaft, better known as DEFA, was the state film monopoly in the German Democratic Republic throughout that country's history.
DEFA was
filmportal.de: DEFA story (in german)
Poster Treasures - The specialist in german posters

DVD's of the films above available through Amazon

Here is a list of the films that are available through Amazon.

The Conversation

Amazon Price: $9.49 (as of 12/02/2009)

Alexander Nevsky

Amazon Price: $22.49 (as of 12/02/2009)

Quiet Flows the Don

Amazon Price: $35.99 (as of 12/02/2009)

Her Third

Amazon Price: $22.49 (as of 12/02/2009)

The DEFA Sci-Fi Collection

Amazon Price: $40.49 (as of 12/02/2009)

East German Film Posters on Ebay

It is very difficult to find DDR/GDR film posters, even in Ebay. The posters I have average $50/each, some selling for as high as $250. If you are interested in the collection please send me a note, otherwise here is a list which is generated from eBay which sometimes returns no items for auction. Check back periodically. Enjoy.

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