Grand Prix Competition
North American Premiere

THE GERMAN SECRET

DEN TYSKE HEMMELIGHED




Lars Johansson

Country of production: Denmark
Year: 2004
Language: Danish, English, German
Mins: 88

Production company: Final Cut Production
Producers: Mikael Opstrup, Thomas Stenderup
Script: Lars Johansson
Cinematography: Henrik Bohn Ipsen, Lars Beyer, Lars Johansson
Editing: Niels Pagh Andersen
Sound: Kristian Eidnes Andersen
Music: Magnus Dahlberg

Source: Danish Film Institute
Gothersgade 55
1123 Copenhagen K
Denmark
Tel: +45 33 743 609
Fax: +45 33 743 445
e-mail: kurstein@dfi.dk
www.dfi.dk

The reconstruction of a wartime romance between her mother and the German officer who may be her father brings far wider repercussions than the subject of this documentary ever expected. As captured by her husband, director Lars Johansson, the story of Kirsten Blohm’s family background turns out to be more fantastic than fiction, involving captivity and flight, secrecy and lies. Blohm has been seeking the truth behind her lineage for years. Who was her father? And who exactly was her mother? Blohm, born in 1946, was raised by her grandparents. She did know her mother, the beautiful but cold Signe Gondrup, but Signe never wanted to disclose anything about her life, let alone about her daughter's father. Following her elusive mother's footsteps, Blohm’s journey takes her to the Czech Republic and Germany where she uncovers a series of dramatic events as well as embarrasing skeletons in the closet.


Lars Johansson
Born in 1949, Johansson graduated of the National Film School of Denmark in 1982. His films have won awards at the Danish Short Film Festival.

Filmography

The German Secret (2004)
Seasons of Blood and Hope- Kosovokosova (2001)
Simona (1998)
HØjholt (1997)
Between Light and Shadow (1996)
Traveler’s Tale (1994)
The Place, The Journey (1988)
Fireman (1986)

SATURDAY, APRIL 2, 2005 AT 6.15 PM. / FACET CINEMATHEQUE
MONDAY, APRIL 4, 2005 AT 7.30 PM. / FACET CINEMATHEQUE