Jana and Jan
(Jana und Jan)
Jana und Jan © DEFA-Stiftung, Siegfried Skoluda
| Dziuba, Helmut |
| Dziuba, Helmut |
| Jakubeit, Peter |
| Reinhardt, Rita |
| Bergmann, Helmut |
| Röske, Heinz |
| Hersmann, Elke |
| Steyer, Christian |
| Brendler, Julia |
| Burza, Eduard |
| Gregorek, Karin |
| Guß, René |
| Müller, Dirk |
| Neumann, Marco |
| Scheffer, Kristin |
| Sodann, Peter |
| Stockmann, Corinna |
| Warmbrunn, Harald |
Synopsis
Fall 1989: Jan is almost 16. Caught while trying to escape to West Germany, he is transferred from prison to a juvenile detention center. Here, he meets Jana … and what starts as a bet, becomes true love. When Jana gets pregnant, the situation spirals out of control. In the summer of 1990, Jana and Jan flee into the insecure future of a new Germany.
In this film the director, internationally known for his critical films about children and young people, cast non-professional actors—some from juvenile detention centers—in the leading roles.
Part of the series WENDE FLICKS: Last Films from East Germany, which commemorates the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Awards
| 1993 | Special Youth Award, San Remo Film Festival |
| 1993 | Bavarian Film Award for Best Director (Helmut Dziuba) |
Press comments
“A portrait of lost and abandoned youth during the GDR’s upheaval. Sensitively directed and played.”
— film-dienst.de
“Helmut Dziuba was one of DEFA’s most successful youth film directors.”
— Der Tagesspiegel
“Helmut Dziuba proves once again his gift for directing young lay actors.”
— Heinz Kersten, film journalist
“A well-informed representation and empathetic depiction of the milieu.”
— TV Spielfilm
Availability
- Turn Subtitles On/Off
- Biographies & Filmographies
- Introductory Essay by Sebastian Heiduschke
- Written Interview with Helmut Dzuiba
- WENDE FLICKS Series Trailer
- About The Wende Museum
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