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..." 

Hannah Arendt (2012)

A look at the life of philosopher and political theorist Hannah Arendt, who reported for The New Yorker on the war crimes trial of the Nazi Adolf Eichmann.

Compelling portrayal is mostly to Barbara Sukowa's credit, who delivers a remarkable performance, but otherwise direction is messy and inconsequential.

Maltin**1/2: "Impassioned but flawed biopic...Yet another one of von Trotta's thought-provoking portayals of strong, complex women, but too much is left unexplained. You have to read the end credits  to know that Arendt's American pal and supporter (McTeer) is none other than novelist-activist Mary McCarthy."

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."