Destinies of Women
(Frauenschicksale)
Frauenschicksale © DEFA-Stiftung, Erich Kilian and Eduard Neufeld
| Dudow, Slatan |
| Bengsch, Gerhard |
| Dudow, Slatan |
| Rumin, Ursula |
| Bortfeldt, Hans Robert |
| Neumann, Lena |
| Baberske, Robert |
| Hauptmann, Hans |
| Erdmann, Otto |
| Mügge, Vera |
| Brecht, Bertolt |
| Eisler, Hanns |
| Book, Anneliese |
| Brunner, Angela |
| Burg, Ursula |
| Delschaft, Maly |
| Düllmann, Susanne |
| Küter, Charlotte |
| Loebinger, Lotte |
| Matschulat, Anneliese |
| Meyen, Gertrud |
| Runkehl, Karla |
| Sutter, Sonja |
Synopsis
Berlin 1952, seven years after WWII. Four women are looking for a good man and happiness in the divided city. Their destinies are loosely connected through one person: the West Berlin dandy and womanizer, Conny.
Released at the peak of East German cultural and political dogmatism, this film was heavily critiqued, especially by female party leaders who objected that its portrayal of the four women did not represent qualities that characterized women in the new society. Now considered a richly contradictory work, Destinies of Women represents an encore production by the Dudow/Eisler/Brecht creative team that made Kuhle Wampe in 1932.
Awards
| 2021 | Cinefest Hamburg, Germany |
| 1991 | Official Selection, Berlin International Film Festival |
| 1952 | Best Director (Slatan Dudow), Karlovy Vary International Film Festival |
Press comments
“A remarkable period picture.”
— Das großes Personenlexikon des Films
“Fascinating for its musical and cinematic aesthetics. It contains hidden references to Weimar culture.”
— Vera Stegmann, German Studies Review
“A fascinating window onto such central themes as the Cold War, postwar reconstruction, consumerism and the evolving role of women.”
— Joshua Feinstein, The Triumph of the Ordinary
