Berlinale highlights forgotten German genre films from the 1970s

The Berlinale is showcasing a retrospective of German genre films from the 1970s, highlighting lesser-known B-movies alongside the New German Cinema movement. This collection features 15 films that blend horror, exploitation, and political themes. Curator Rainer Rother notes the crossover between auteur cinema and genre films during this era. Notable works include a serial killer thriller and a campy vampire movie, both reflecting the political climate of the time. The retrospective also includes East German films that, despite censorship, incorporated subversive elements. The genre's popularity waned in the 1980s, shifting focus to television crime dramas, but its influence persists in contemporary German cinema.