Karla (Carla)

1965, b/w, 129 min. Feature
Dir.: Herrmann Zschoche
Script: Ulrich Plenzdorf
Camera: Günter Ost
Music: Karl-Ernst Sasse
Cast: Jutta Hoffmann, Jürgen Hentsch, Hans Hardt-Hardtloff, Inge Keller, Rolf Hoppe
VHS-NTSC, English subtitles:

Synopsis:

The story of a young teacher who goes against the routine opportunism of her hypocritical and small-minded surroundings. Just starting her teaching career, she discovers her students hide their true thoughts and feelings and only say what they are expected to say. The young teacher tries to encourage open discussions about taboo topics, attempting to break down suspicion and cynicism. Her superiors view her actions with unease and eventually step in to discipline Carla, who is beginning to lose faith in her cause. Along with a dozen other DEFA films, Carla fell prey to a ban in 1965-66. A meeting of SED party functionaries labeled the film nihilistic, skeptical and hostile. Only in 1990, after the fall of the Wall, was it shown in cinemas.