2 June 2000 - 16 July 2000

Ralf Kirsten (1930 - 1998), a member of DEFA′s "middle" generation, belonged to the most productive directors of the studio during the 1960s and 1970s.
His topics were the issues and conflicts of his generation. "Ich zwing dich zu leben“ (1978), a sensitive, quiet film about a 15-year-old boy and his father – an examination of the Nazi era and the father′s generation –, "Trümmerfrauen" ("debris women", i.e. women who worked to clean the streets from the debris during the post-war years) in "Steinzeitballade" (1961), "Der verlorene Engel“ (1966/71), a film about Ernst Barlach who was re-edited several times and only later reached the public, were at the heart of the exhibition that consisted of exhibits from Ralf Kirsten′s extensive estate.
Scripts, set design sketches, photos and and documents also made clear that actors delivered outstanding performances when working with director Kirsten: Rolf Ludwig in "Eine Pyramide für mich“ (1975), Uwe Kockisch in "Lachtauben weinen nicht“ (1979), Jutta Wachowiak in "Käthe Kollwitz – Bilder eines Lebens“ (1987). And, of course, Manfred Krug who achieved stardom through his cooperation with Kirsten in films like "Auf der Sonnenseite“ (1961), "Beschreibung eines Sommers“ (1962) or "Mir nach, Canaillen“ (1963/64).