Photo : DEFA Stiftung Heinz Wenzel
Film club - Karbid und Sauerampfer (Carbide and Sorrel)
Forget the usual grim portrayals of post-war reconstruction and step into this bizarre road trip across a country finding its feet again. It is a witty, black-and-white gem that turns a simple delivery mission into a surprisingly charming odyssey.
Maison Heinrich Heine (Paris 14th)
About
The Maison Heinrich Heine hosts a free screening of Frank Beyer’s 1963 film Karbid und Sauerampfer on Monday, November 2, 2026, at 20:00. This black-and-white road movie depicts an eccentric journey through post-war East Germany as a worker attempts to transport fuel from Wittenberge to Dresden. The session features an introduction by historian Caroline Moine. The venue is fully accessible to wheelchair users, as well as to visitors who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, visually impaired, or living with cognitive disabilities, ensuring an inclusive experience for all film enthusiasts.
In the aftermath of the Second World War, this singular road movie takes us through the first months of the Soviet occupation zone, which would become the GDR a few years later. A worker, Kalle Blücher, is tasked with transporting seven barrels of fuel from Wittenberge, in Brandenburg, to Dresden, in Saxony. Lacking a vehicle, this seemingly mundane mission soon turns into an odyssey that is as improbable as it is comical, offering a humorous look at a country in the midst of reconstruction.
A film directed by Frank Beyer (East Germany, 1963, b/w, 85 min, French subtitles)
Presented by Caroline Moine, Associate Professor of Contemporary History, University of Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines.
Our other films in the film club dedicated to Frank Beyer:
- Der Verdacht (The Suspicion) | Monday, November 16, 2026 at 8:00 PM
- Spur der Steine (Trace of Stones) | Monday, November 23, 2026 at 8:00 PM
- Fünf Patronenhülsen (Five Cartridge Cases) | Monday, November 30, 2026 at 8:00 PM
- Jakob der Lügner (Jacob the Liar) | Monday, December 7, 2026 at 7:30 PM
Our take on this event
Join us at the Maison Heinrich Heine for a special screening of the East German film Karbid und Sauerampfer (Carburetor and Wood Sorrel) on Monday, November 2, 2026. Running for 85 minutes in black and white, the film features original audio with French subtitles and follows the humorous odyssey of an industrial worker tasked with moving fuel across the nascent German Democratic Republic.
The screening takes place from 20:00 to 21:15. To provide historical perspective, the film will be introduced by Caroline Moine, a lecturer in contemporary history at the University of Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines.
Admission is free of charge. Located in the 14th arrondissement, the venue is committed to accessibility, providing facilities for wheelchair users and individuals with sensory or cognitive disabilities. This event is part of a broader series celebrating the work of director Frank Beyer, with subsequent sessions scheduled throughout November and early December 2026.
