Berlin Ballad
‘Berliner Ballade’, GER (West) 1948, directed by Robert A. Stemmle, 90 min, with English subtitles, rating: 6
This black comedy follows the life of Otto, a released prisoner of war, as he attempts to rebuild his life in the ruins of Berlin. His days are spent searching for food, trading on the black market, and racketeering. With slapstick bewilderment, a gaunt Gert Fröbe plays the returning soldier whose name “Normalverbraucher” (“Joe Blow”) suggests that he is a stand-in for many of his contemporaries. The film narrator’s irony, commentary on the action through songs, and directorial interventions all draw attention to absurd, comedic elements of post-war life.
Featuring: Gert Fröbe, Aribert Wäscher, Tatjana Sais, Ute Sielisch, O. E. Hasse