Generation War, a critically acclaimed and thought provoking German miniseries that explores the everyday realities of wartime life from a deeply personal perspective, makes its Canadian broadcast premiere on Super Channel, Canada’s only national English pay-television network, on Wednesday, December 3 at 10 p.m. ET. The series was just awarded an International Emmy in the TV movie/miniseries category at the 42nd International Emmy Awards held Monday Nov 24 in New York.
Described as a German Band of Brothers, Generation War vividly depicts the lives of five young German friends in the years from 1941 to 1945, forced to navigate the unconscionable moral compromises of life under Hitler’s regime. Eight years in the making, and filmed on over 150 sets across Germany, Lithuania and Latvia, the three episodes x 90 minute miniseries (in German with English subtitles) insightfully reveals a country still grappling with how previous generations could have let themselves become so tragically misdirected.
In Berlin in 1941, on the eve of Hitler’s invasion of the Soviet Union, level headed officer Wilhelm (Volker Bruch) is full of patriotic fervor as he heads for the eastern front with his sensitive younger brother Friedhelm (Tom Schilling). Charlotte (Miriam Stein) is a young nurse in love with Wilhelm who is serving in the Red Cross. Greta (Katherina Schüttler) is an ambitious singer who longs to become another Marlene Dietrich, while her boyfriend Viktor (Ludwig Trepte) faces a daily struggle for survival as a Jew in an increasingly oppressive regime.
Five young friends whose friendship was meant to last a lifetime. However, as the war takes hold, none of the friends can imagine how the conflict will ultimately change not only them, but the rest of the world.
Episode 1 – “A Different Time” – Berlin, the summer of 1941: The five friends, Wilhelm, his sensitive brother Friedhelm, Charlotte, Viktor and Greta meet to say their farewells. Little do they know how war will change them.
Episode 2 – “A Different War” – Two years later: Wilhelm and Friedhelm are fighting on the eastern front, where Charlotte is stationed as a nurse in a field hospital. In Berlin, Greta’s career as a singer is taking off, with some dubious support, while her Jewish boyfriend Viktor has to fear for his life.
Episode 3 – “A Different Country” – A country lies in ruins. The five friends also haven’t weathered the war without losses, and the survivors will never be the same as before.
Directed by Philipp Kadelbach, Generation War is a co-production of Team Worx and ZDF in co-operation with Beta Film and ZDF enterprises.
Generation War premieres on Super Channel Wed Dec 3
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