Mama, I'm Alive (German: Mama, ich lebe) is a 1977 East German and Soviet film directed by Konrad Wolf.[1] It was chosen as East Germany's official submission to the 50th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film, but did not manage to receive a nomination.[2][3] It was also entered into the 27th Berlin International Film Festival.[4]

Mama, I'm Alive
Film poster
Directed byKonrad Wolf
Written byWolfgang Kohlhaase
StarringPeter Prager
CinematographyWerner Bergmann
Edited byEvelyn Carow
Release date
  • 24 February 1977 (1977-02-24)
Running time
103 minutes
Countries
LanguagesGerman, Russian

Plot

edit

In a Soviet prisoner-of-war camp, the German soldiers Becker, Pankonin, Koralewski and Kuschke have decided to work with the Red Army against the German troops. The Baltic-Soviet Major Mauris accompanies the new comrades, now wearing Soviet uniforms, to the front.

On their long journey on the train, which is very comfortable by wartime standards, the four get to know the people and living conditions of the country they once fought against and reflect on their situation. The viewer gradually learns the story of each of them and can understand their inner development.

When they arrive at the front, only three of them decide to take up arms against their fellow countrymen. At the decisive moment, however, they hesitate to shoot at them, resulting in the death of their Soviet comrade and friend Kolja.

Meanwhile, the fourth of them, Pankonin, has taken on the task of listening in on German radio transmissions together with the Red Army woman Svetlana. He and Svetlana fall in love.

Finally, three of them, chosen by lot, are dropped behind enemy lines for a commando operation in German uniforms and are killed trying to get back to the Soviet side. Among the dead is Svetlana's lover Pankonin.

The only survivor was Becker, who had received a note from a fellow German prisoner in the camp with his address and the sentence "Mama, I'm alive".

Cast

edit

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ Mama, I'm Alive (eVideo), Santa Barbara Public Library, retrieved 24 May 2024
  2. ^ H. G. Pflaum. "On the history of the German candidates for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film". German Films. Archived from the original on 2007-08-13. Retrieved 2008-08-27.
  3. ^ Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
  4. ^ "IMDB.com: Awards for Mama, I'm Alive". imdb.com. Retrieved 2010-07-25.
edit