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Das Mädchen aus dem Fahrstuhl

The Girl in the Lift
Berlinale Special 2019
© Dieter Chill / DEFA Stiftung
Frank, a tenth grade student, falls in love with his classmate Regine. His father is a well-connected plant manager in the GDR; Regine’s mother is a single parent with four children. Regine wants to become a kindergarten teacher, but her grades are poor and she is not allowed to apply for technical college. Frank champions her and seeks an open discussion about these rigid regulations. But his criticism is nipped in the bud. When he tries to oppose this, he feels the pressure of the state being brought to bear against him. He senses the conformism, egotism and lack of interest in change all around him. Will he remain strong? In his last DEFA film, Herrmann Zschoche, who is being honoured with the Berlinale Camera, built upon two of his most important works: his banned film Karla (1966/1990) and Insel der Schwäne (1983). All three films call for courage - especially moral courage - in undemocratic times. Created between December 1989 and June 1990, Das Mädchen aus dem Fahrstuhl is one of the director’s previously unknown works. A historical film about the recent past that sank into oblivion in the cinemas of a newly united Germany and has never been broadcast on German television.
by Herrmann Zschoche
with Barbara Sommer, Rolf Lukoschek, Henry Schröder, Diane Damerau, Stefanie Wegener, Alexandra Falkner, Thomas Grimm, Oliver Fischer, Matthias Hühne, Wolfgang Ullrich, Christian Anders, Michelle Herrmann, Philipp Tietz, Frieder Uhlmann, Jan Opoczynski German Democratic Republic 1990 German 95’ Colour Rating R0

With

  • Barbara Sommer (Regine)
  • Rolf Lukoschek (Frank)
  • Henry Schröder (Mischa)
  • Diane Damerau (Sybille)
  • Stefanie Wegener (Elke)
  • Alexandra Falkner (Karin)
  • Thomas Grimm (Peter)
  • Oliver Fischer (Schulz)
  • Matthias Hühne (Taubner)
  • Wolfgang Ullrich (Sven)
  • Christian Anders (Jörn)
  • Michelle Herrmann (Gabi)
  • Philipp Tietz (Klaus)
  • Frieder Uhlmann (Enrico)
  • Jan Opoczynski (Matthias)

Crew

Director Herrmann Zschoche
Written by Gabriele Herzog based on her novel
Dramaturgy Hasso Hartmann
Cinematography Dieter Chill
Camera Assistant Peter Bernhardt, Waltraut Pathenheimer
Editing Monika Schindler
Music Johannes Schlecht
Sound Günter Witt, Wolfgang Grossmann
Production Design Marlene Willmann
Costumes Inken Gusner
Make-Up Kurt Adler, Deli Köthke
Assistant Directors Cornelia Grasme, Alexander Zschiedrich
Post-Production Supervisor Ralph Retzlaff

World Sales

Stiftung Deutsche Kinemathek – Museum für Film und Fernsehen

Produced by

DEFA-Studio für Spielfilme

Herrmann Zschoche

Born in Dresden, Germany in 1934, he began working as an assistant and cameraman in East German television. In 1959, he graduated in directing at what is now the Film University Babelsberg Konrad Wolf and then worked as an assistant director at the DEFA feature film studios. He made his directorial debut in 1961 with The Fairy Tale Castle. His 1965 film Carla was banned and only publicly released in 1990. His most important writing partners have included Ulrich Plenzdorf and Christa Kožik. In 2019, he was awarded the Berlinale Camera.

Filmography (selection)

1961 Die Igelfreundschaft; Uprchlik · Das Märchenschloß (The Fairy Tale Castle) 1962 Das Stacheltier - Man lernt nie aus 1963 Lütt Matten und die weiße Muschel (Little Matten and the White Shell) 1964 Engel im Fegefeuer 1965 Karla (Carla) 1967 Leben zu zweit 1969 Weite Straßen - stille Liebe (Long Roads - Secret Love) 1972 Eolomea 1974 Liebe mit 16 1975 Philipp, der Kleine (Philipp the Small) 1977 Feuer unter Deck (Fire Below Deck) · Sieben Sommersprossen (Seven Freckles) 1979 Glück im Hinterhaus (Happiness in the Backyard) 1980 Und nächstes Jahr am Balaton (Next Year at Lake Balaton) 1981 Bürgschaft für ein Jahr (On Probation) 1982 Insel der Schwäne (Swan Island) 1984 Hälfte des Lebens (A Half of Life) 1987 Die Alleinseglerin (The Solo Sailer) 1988 Grüne Hochzeit 1990 Das Mädchen aus dem Fahrstuhl (The Girl in the Lift)

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2024