The Cold War and Divided Germany in East German Cinematography offers viewers a glimpse of some of the Cold War-era movies produced in former East Germany. The series features five movies released between the years 1950 and 1972, as well as one post-1989 production.

In The Latest from Da-Da-R, Steffen Mensching and Hans-Eckardt Wenzel – highly acclaimed East German poets, songwriters and comedians – satirize East German life in the historic year after the Wall came down through a series of cabaret pieces. The two clowns they play, Meh and Weh, are allowed to leave prison to sing for people outside. As they perform their pieces, however, the country sinks into rebellion, the prison is attacked and looted, and the people chase the clowns away. The title is a wordplay on the irreverent Dada art movement of the 1920s and the German acronym for East Germany – the DDR.

Cultural historian Paul Werner Wagner will introduce the movie. Joining the post-screening discussion will be the movie director Jörg Foth.

The event is hosted by the Wilson Center in cooperation with: The DEFA Foundation, Berlin; DEFA Film Library, University of Massachusetts, Amherst; Goethe-Institut, Washington, DC; German Historical Institute, Washington, DC; Heinrich Böll Foundation, Washington, DC; and The George Washington University.