Schwestern oder Die Balance des Glücks (1979)

 

A German career woman loses a sister and seeks a surrogate.

From memory: Subtle, complex, but also a bit stiff examination of a sisterly relationship compels mainly through the excellent performances by Jutta Lampe, Gudrun Gabriel and Jessica Früh.

Halliwell*: "Troubling, claustrophobic study of damaging family relationships."

Maltin**1/2: "Slow but not unrewarding psychological study..." 

Die bleierne Zeit (1981)

Two sisters both fight for women's rights. Juliane is a journalist and Marianne a terrorist. When Marianne is jailed, Juliane feels obligated to help her despite their differing views on how to live.

Intense and affecting analysis of the sisters' relationship which also reflects important political issues in Germany at the time; the cast is excellent.

Halliwell*: "...this is a suppositional account of how two well-brought- up girls can develop so differently."

Maltin***1/2: "Profound, multileveled, and memorable chronicle...Superbly acted, a must-see."