80 Years of DEFA - DEFA Series 2026: It's Okay to Laugh - A Dresden couple without a car or a driver's license suddenly finds themselves the owners of two Wartburgs
80 Years of DEFA - DEFA Series 2026: It’s Okay to Laugh
DEFA 1986, Director: Bernd Schirmer, Runtime: 85 minutes, Premiere: November 20, 1986, Kino International
Starring: Jörg Gudzuhn, Kata Kanya, Otto Mellies, Daniela Hoffmann, and others
Mr. Steinkühler is a passionate pedestrian. But out of compassion, he buys a friend’s Wartburg because the friend has to pay off his wife following their divorce. The second car rolls up because Mrs. Steinkühler had secretly ordered one years ago. Both sign up for driving school. For Steinkühler, the lessons—especially with driving instructor Hempel—are a nightmare. He’s also jealous because his wife is obviously getting along very well with her driving instructor. As luck would have it, a lively young student thinks he’s the driving instructor. Her affection both flatters and confuses him, yet he’s determined to seize this unexpected chance for an adventure.
Renate Holland-Moritz praises the “brilliant acting.” She notes that the driving lesson scenes, in particular, are especially well done: “The dialogues build up to revealing, spot-on punchlines that pop like champagne corks.” (Die Eule im Kino, Berlin 1994). For film-dienst, the film was a “well-acted comedy that deserves attention for its ironic glimpses into everyday life in the GDR.”
Text: Rüdiger Weber
The introduction will be given by our association member and DEFA specialist Rüdiger Weber.
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Doors open and
box office
opens: 6:30
p
.
m.
Admission: €8.50 / reduced €6.50
The cinema bar is open starting at 6:30 p.m.
