Germany, Year Zero (1948)

Set in the wake of World War II, amidst the ruins of Berlin in 1947, "Germany, Year Zero" unfolds the harrowing tale of an ordinary German family's fight against the odds to survive. When the war leaves the city in shambles, the father of the family, weakened by illness and unable to provide, finds himself reliant on his children's resourcefulness. Karl-Heinz, the older son, a former soldier, is now a fugitive haunted by the spectre of war crimes while his sister Eva, waits for her lover, Wolf. Eva seeks refuge in the vibrant nightlife of the devastated city where she trades minor gifts and valuable cigarettes to sustain her family's survival. But at the heart of the tale is the youngest, twelve-year-old Edmund. As he navigates through the wreckage of his city, he is propelled into adulthood far too soon. Edmund's desperate attempts to scrounge work and find food to stave off his family's starvation drive him into a labyrinth of moral dilemmas. Unexpected hope surfaces when Edmund encounters Herr Enning, a man from his past, now a beacon in the desolate landscape. Once a figure of authority and knowledge, this former teacher promises guidance in these difficult times. However, Enning's ideologies may not offer the salvation Edmund seeks, but rather, lead him down a path of devastating consequences. In a world torn apart by war, "Germany, Year Zero" paints a poignant portrait of innocence lost and survival's grim cost, leaving viewers to question the true price of war and the lengths a family will go to survive. The movie offers a raw, unflinching look at humanity's resilience amidst chaos, capturing the heart-wrenching struggle of a family caught in the aftermath of a global catastrophe.

Germany, Year Zero is a drama movie featuring Edmund Moeschke.

Germany, Year Zero is currently streaming on Criterion Channel, Max and Max Amazon Channel.