Blog
Winterblume (Winter Flowers)
Seventeen years before, Mehmet Umut illegally immigrated from Turkey to Germany. His presence was tolerated there until he became unemployed. Fearing he would apply for welfare, policemen were sent to his apartment to roust him from his bed and have … Continue reading
Abgebrannt (Burnout)
Pelin, eine junge alleinerziehende Mutter aus dem Problemkiez Berlin-Wedding wird mit ihren drei Kindern von unterschiedlichen Vätern verschiedener Nationen,- Robby (9), Elvis (4) und Roxanne (19 Monate),- zur Mutter-Kind-Kur in einen landschaftlich paradiesischen Kurort nach Norddeutschland verschickt. Die Kur soll … Continue reading
Der Unfall (The Accident)
Der spanische Gastarbeiter Abél wird schwer verletzt mit eingeschlagenem Schädel in einer Baugrube gefunden. Sein Bruder Paco kommt nichtsahnend einen Tag später nach Köln. Ohne Kenntnisse der deutschen Sprache muss er sich durchschlagen und wird schnell mit Vorurteilen konfrontiert. Nachdem … Continue reading
Multicultural Germany Class: Multiple Tongues
This post is part of a series in which students reflect on their discussions in the UC Berkeley undergraduate seminar “Multicultural Germany.” This week’s summary is by Jenelle Mathews: This week in class was a continuation of last week’s topic, Multiple … Continue reading
Book Review: “The Passport”
UC Berkeley undergraduate Preethi Kandhalu reviewed Herta Müller’s 1986 novel “Der Mensch ist ein grosser Fasan auf der Welt” (The Passport): The Passport presents the story of Windisch, a miller who lives in the Socialist Republic of Romania with his wife and … Continue reading
Book Review: “Septembertee”
As part of their work for the Multicultural Germany undergraduate seminar at UC Berkeley, students in the course have reviewed recent German books relating in various ways to topics of migration, multiculturalism, and contemporary German identity. Julia Schroeder reviewed Renan … Continue reading
Ferien (Vacation)
Sommer. Ein abgelegenes Landhaus in der Uckermark. Umgeben und verborgen durch einen Wald. In diesem weltabgeschiedenen Refugium lebt Anna (Angela Winkler) mit ihrem Mann Robert (Wigand Witting) und ihrem Sohn Max (Amir Hadzic). Im Verlauf eines Sommers kommen in dem … Continue reading
Evet, Ich will!
The movie revolves around three different couples who have to overcome familial and cultural obstacles to be with their ones they love. A man looking for a bride-for-hire also learns the hard way that expectations and reality do not always … Continue reading
Wut (Rage)
Der Teenager Felix Laub (Robert Höller) stammt aus wohlhabendem Hause und hat zum türkischstämmigen Can (Oktay Özdemir) ein zwiespältiges Verhältnis: Obwohl Felix von Can und seiner Gang drangsaliert wird, kauft er ihm gelegentlich eine Portion Marihana ab. Eines Tages geht … Continue reading
Book Review: “Transit”
UC Berkeley undergraduate Victoria Brinkerhoff reviewed Anna Seghers’ novel Transit: Transit describes the encounters and emotional turmoil of an anonymous twenty-seven-year-old German refugee in the early 1940s. The novel is written from the refugee’s perspective; in his narration, he documents his new … Continue reading
Book Review: “Scherbenpark” (Broken Glass Park)
UC Berkeley undergraduate Brittany Scott reviewed Alina Bronsky’s 2008 novel Broken Glass Park: Broken Glass Park is a young adult novel that brilliantly emphasizes how differences in nationality can impact one individual’s life in a multiplicity of ways. The main protagonist Sascha fights … Continue reading
Book Review: The Hottest Dishes of the Tartar Cuisine
UC Berkeley undergraduate Melissa Carlson reviewed Alina Bronsky’s 2010 novel: Die schärfsten Gerichte der tartarischen Küche (The Hottest Dishes of the Tartar Cuisine) examines identity and culture in a Tartar family living in Russia and the events that surround their eventual migration to Germany. … Continue reading
Book Review: “Deutschland allein zu Haus”
As part of their work for the Multicultural Germany undergraduate seminar at UC Berkeley, students in the course have reviewed recent German books relating in various ways to topics of migration, multiculturalism, and contemporary German identity. Sara Sellami reviewed Osman … Continue reading
Multicultural Germany Class: Week 7, Staging Diversity
This post is part of a series in which students reflect on their discussions in the UC Berkeley undergraduate seminar “Multicultural Germany.” This week’s summary is by Jennifer Lau: Museum exhibitions and culture commemorations served as the primary focal point … Continue reading
