GUNDERMANN

GUNDERMANN, 2018
Germany | DCP, Color, 128’| German
Director:Andreas Dresen
Cast: Alexander Scheer, Anna Unterberger, Axel Prahl, Thorsten Merten, Eva Weißenborn

Andreas Dresen's new film portrays the true story of Gerhard Gundermann (1955-1998), one of the most famous composers and musicians from the German Democratic Republic. A struggling musician, Gundermann works as an excavator operator at the coalmines in Lausitz during the day and goes up on stage at night. In a short time, he builds a reputation and a wide fan base. He addresses the concepts of life and death as well as political and social issues in his songs. As Gundermann starts becoming an idol for many people in the East Germany of the 1980s with his very personal and candid songs, he also starts to get into trouble with the government in power. Gundermann continues to be a revered individual during the collapse of the GDR – he even manages to expand his fan base. His success isn’t questioned even when his dealings with the secret police (STASI) of the GDR surface in 1995. In this acclaimed biopic, Andreas Dresen depicts a complex and often contradictory character as he illustrates the two sides of East Germany, and how it’s impossible to define the country as either black or white.
2019 German Film Awards Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actor (Alexander Scheer), Best Production Design, Best Costume Design
2019 Bavarian Film Awards Best Actor (Alexander Scheer)
2019 Tromsø FIPRESCI Prize