Films by Matthias Schmidt

Germany 2023, 156 min
by Matthias Schmidt, Vit Polacek

Europe, 1930s: the Jewish Hertzberger family were living happily in Rotterdam. Just a few hundred kilometres away, young German Wilhelm Frank hoped for the resurgence of the German nation and became Hitler’s supporter. Ellis Hertzberger and Wilhelm Frank represent the polar opposites that set the underlying tone for Lost Youth (Ep1). From numerous international perspectives, the award-winning writing duo of Matthias Schmidt and Vít Poláček tells the story of both, the victims and the perpetrator

Germany 2019, 104 min
by Kai Christiansen, Matthias Schmidt

Who were the players in the 'poker game' between East and West? What were the stakes? This documentary focuses on the diplomatic twists and personal stories behind key moments in the struggle between hostile ideologies and superpowers. While unfolding THE COLD WAR STORY in the fields of politics and diplomacy, the military, economy and everyday life, the films deliberately contrast the enemy camps and perspectives: East vs. West; US vs. USSR; West Germany vs. East Germany.  An intriguing journey

Germany 2016, 90 min
by Torsten Körner, Matthias Schmidt

The film tells the story of Chancellor Merkel’s unexpected rise to power – from an East German physicist to the most powerful woman in the world. We look at her biography from when she entered the political stage in 1989 to the present. A second focus is put on the refugee crisis and establishes the connection between Merkel’s actions and her biography. Political and personal companions who have witnessed the chancellor throughout the years comment on her childhood in East Germany, her first pol