Lissy (1957)
A quietly devastating East German drama about one woman's moral awakening in the shadow of rising fascism.
Lissy - Movie Information
- Release Year: 1957
- Directed by: Konrad Wolf
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Drama
- Runtime: 1h 29m
- Original Language: German
- Spoken Languages: German
- Release Date (Theatrical): May 29, 1957 (Germany), June 22, 1994 (France)
- Production Companies: DEFA-Studio für Spielfilme
- Production Countries: East Germany
Lissy - Plot
In 1930s Berlin, a woman's life unravels as her unemployed husband succumbs to Nazi propaganda and joins the Storm Troopers, while her brother's anti-Nazi stance leads to his death, prompting her to confront her beliefs and make a risky choice.
Lissy - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and get a sense of this landmark East German drama:
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Lissy - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Konrad Wolf
Main Cast
- Sonja Sutter
- Horst Drinda
- Gerhard Bienert
- Hans-Peter Minetti
- Kurt Oligmüller
- Else Wolz
- Raimund Schelcher
- Christa Gottschalk
- Mathilde Danegger
- Horst Friedrich
Writers
- Alex Wedding
- Konrad Wolf
Lissy - FAQs
What is Lissy about?
Lissy follows a working-class Berlin woman in the 1930s whose world fractures under the rise of Nazism. Her unemployed husband is seduced by Nazi propaganda and joins the Storm Troopers, while her brother's courageous resistance ends in tragedy, forcing Lissy to confront her own values and take a dangerous stand.
Does Lissy have a hopeful or tragic ending?
The film ends on a note of moral awakening rather than easy resolution. After enduring devastating personal losses, Lissy chooses conscience over conformity. It's a sobering conclusion that reflects the film's unflinching look at how ordinary people either resist or capitulate to fascism.
Where can you stream Lissy?
You can watch Lissy for free on Kanopy, the streaming service available through many public libraries and universities. It's a great option if you want to explore classic DEFA cinema without any subscription cost.
Is Lissy based on a true story or novel?
Lissy is adapted from the 1935 novel of the same name by German author Alex Wedding, a pen name for Margarete Bernhard. The novel was written in exile during the Nazi period and depicts the moral and political pressures faced by ordinary Germans during the rise of the Third Reich.
Who are the main actors in Lissy?
Sonja Sutter leads the cast as Liesbeth 'Lissy' Frohmeyer, with Horst Drinda as her husband Alfred. The supporting cast includes Gerhard Bienert, Hans-Peter Minetti as her brother Paul, Raimund Schelcher, and Else Wolz, all veterans of East German stage and screen.
Who directed Lissy and what is his significance?
Konrad Wolf directed Lissy, and he's one of the most important filmmakers in East German cinema history. Born in Germany and raised partly in the Soviet Union, Wolf brought a deeply personal perspective to antifascist stories. Lissy was an early highlight in a career that later produced masterworks like Solo Sunny and I Was Nineteen.
How was Lissy received by critics?
Lissy is widely regarded as one of the finest antifascist films produced by DEFA, East Germany's state film studio. Critics praise Konrad Wolf's restrained direction and Sonja Sutter's nuanced performance, noting how the film humanizes its characters rather than reducing them to political symbols.
What films are similar to Lissy?
If Lissy resonates with you, try Alone in Berlin (2016), a gripping story of quiet resistance in Nazi Germany, or The German Lesson (2019), which examines complicity and conscience under the Third Reich. My Neighbor Adolf (2022) and Origin (2023) also explore fascism and its human costs from compelling angles.
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