Photo : Kairos Filmverleih
Cinema - Abschied von gestern (Anita G.)
Step into the intense and evocative world of Anita G., a landmark character of New German Cinema. Through a striking non-linear narrative, the film explores the struggles of a woman caught between her past and the hope for a fresh start in a rapidly changing society. It is a bold, visually captivating masterpiece that captures the essence of social displacement with raw honesty.
Maison Heinrich Heine (Paris 14th)
About
On Monday, October 12, 2026, the Maison Heinrich Heine in the 14th arrondissement hosts a screening of Alexander Kluge's 1966 drama, Abschied von gestern (Anita G.). This 88-minute black-and-white film portrays a woman's struggle to find her place in West Germany after fleeing the GDR. Presented in original language with French subtitles, the event is free to attend. The venue is fully inclusive, offering access for wheelchair users and those with auditory, visual, or cognitive impairments. This screening offers a unique opportunity to engage with a pivotal piece of German cinema in an accessible cultural setting.
Born in 1937 in Leipzig to a Jewish family, Anita G. grows up in the GDR after her parents return to Germany, where she works as a switchboard operator. After fleeing to the West, she becomes a nurse, but is given a suspended sentence for theft. Seeking to escape her past, she evades her probation officer and moves to another city. In Anita G., Alexander Kluge (1932–2026) traces her path of integration in the Federal Republic through a fragmented, kaleidoscopic narrative, blending intertitles, voice-overs, and narrative ruptures. Far from a linear story, the film composes the portrait of a woman in search of stability in a society struggling to offer her a place.
A drama (West Germany, 1966, b/w, 88 min, French subtitles) directed by Alexander Kluge, starring Alexandra Kluge, Günter Mack, and Eva Maria Meineke.
Our take on this event
Join us at the Maison Heinrich Heine on October 12, 2026, for a screening of the 1966 drama Abschied von gestern (Anita G.). The event runs from 20:00 to 21:30. Directed by Alexander Kluge, this black-and-white feature stars Alexandra Kluge, Günter Mack, and Eva Maria Meineke. The film utilizes a fragmented, kaleidoscopic narrative style to examine the life of a woman navigating the complexities of integration in West Germany after leaving East Germany.
The story follows Anita G., born in Leipzig in 1937, as she transitions from life in the GDR to a precarious existence in the West. Through voice-overs and narrative ruptures, Kluge crafts a profound portrait of an individual searching for stability within a society that offers little support. The film is screened in its original language with French subtitles.
Located at 27C Boulevard Jourdan, the venue is committed to accessibility. The space is equipped to welcome wheelchair users, as well as individuals with visual, auditory, or cognitive disabilities. Attendance is free for all guests.
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