Films by Eric Esser

Germany 2022, 96 min
by Eric Esser

An inherited family treasure trove of photos and film footage show the director's grandfather in southern Germany in the 1940s. In one clip, the grandfather is briefly seen at a funfair wearing a swastika on hisjacket. How is our perception of a loved one changed through a symbol that stands for murder by the millions? How can photos and film footage, memories and archival material, be pieced together to form a coherentpicture? A struggle for memory – and a search whose persistence ultimately ru

Germany 2019, 71 min
by Eric Esser

One building. One day. 40 people swapping rooms. “Kinzig 9”, is the collective occupied housing project in former East Berlin. It has many different rooms: some big, some small, some bright, some dark. To be fair, the inhabitants swap apartments and they do it all in one day. Unfortunately, the logistics do not go as smoothly as planned and the madness of the rotation puts their harmonious community aspirations to the test.

Germany 2019, 11 min
by Eric Esser

A border in Europe. A painting by Paul Klee. A poem by Walter Benjamin.A film about yesterday and today, and how difficult it is to recognize one behind the other.

Germany 2014, 58 min
by Eric Esser

Annita Malavasi was just 22 when the Germans occupied Italy, their former allies, in 1943. As a partisan in the Italian resistance named 'Laila', she moved throughout the Apennines with and between fighting units, delivering information, transporting weapons, and taking part in battles. She spent over a year in the Apennines, fighting against the German occupation. At the same time, she had to assert herself against the men of the male-dominated Italian society. By the end of the war, Laila had

Germany 2013, 11 min
by Eric Esser

Chaja Florentin and Mimi Frons have been best friends for 83 years. Born and raised in Berlin, they had to escape to Palestine with their families in 1934. They talk about their complicated relationship with Berlin in a Tel Aviv café where they meet everyday. A film about friendship, homeland and identity. Int.version released: June 04, 2013