Berlin '36

Berlin '36

Nazi Germany 1936. Gretel Bergman is one of Hitler's best gold medal contenders. And she's Jewish.

2009 · 100 min · ★ 5.4 · Drama, History

Berlin 36 is a 2009 German film telling the fate of Jewish athlete Gretel Bergmann in the 1936 Summer Olympics. She was replaced by the Nazi regime by an athlete later discovered to be a man. The film is based on a true story and was released in Germany on September 10, 2009. Reporters at Der Spiegel challenged the historical basis for many of the events in the film, pointing to arrest records and medical examinations indicating German authorities did not learn Dora Ratjen was male until 1938.

Directed by Kaspar Heidelbach · Written by Lothar Kurzawa

Your Rating

Cast

Karoline Herfurth Gretel Bergmann
Sebastian Urzendowsky Marie Ketteler
Axel Prahl Hans Waldmann
Robert Gallinowski Sigfrid Kulmbach
Thomas Thieme Hans von Tschammer und Osten
Johann von Bülow Karl Ritter von Halt
August Zirner Edwin Bergmann
Maria Happel Paula Bergmann
Franz Dinda Rudolph Bergmann
Leon Seidel Walter Bergmann
Marita Breuer Eleonore Ketteler
Otto Tausig Leo Löwenstein

Make it a double feature

4h 40m together

Berlin '36

Der Untergang der Pamir

Both from Kaspar Heidelbach.

More from Kaspar HeidelbachSee all →

Gates of Fire

Gates of Fire · 1996

MovieCrimeAction

Ex-Secret Service agent Harry Kowa now works as a bodyguard. Protecting his boss from an assassination attempt, he kills one of the attackers, who turns out to be a government agent. Now it's open season on Kowa.

Leo und Charlotte

Leo und Charlotte · 1991

Leo und Charlotte

Stan Becker – Echte Freunde

Stan Becker – Echte Freunde · 2000

Stan Becker – Echte Freunde

While searching for a treasure in the Berlin sewers, Stan Becker and his friend Oskar come across a dead woman. A short time later, the police arrest the two treasure hunters on suspicion of the crime. While in custody, Oskar falls victim to murder. After his release, Stan immediately sets off in search of his friend's murderer.

Zwei vom Blitz getroffen

Zwei vom Blitz getroffen · 2000

Zwei vom Blitz getroffen

Understanding who you are is complicated enough in everyday life. How difficult must it be to find your identity when you slip into the body of your rebellious daughter as a mother and into the skin of your mother as a 16-year-old? This is exactly what happens to teacher Susanne and her daughter Isabelle. Suddenly, everything turns upside down: punk Isabelle frustrates her boyfriend Basti and her friends with her well-behaved, bourgeois nerdiness. And she no longer wants to be with her divorced father Georg. On the other hand, teacher Susanne surprises them with her new pedagogy and unusual laid-back attitude...

A.S. Gefahr ist sein Geschäft

A.S. Gefahr ist sein Geschäft · 1995

A.S. Gefahr ist sein Geschäft

SeriesAction & Adventure

Schimanski

Schimanski · 1997

Der Untergang der Pamir

Der Untergang der Pamir · 2006

Der Untergang der Pamir

MovieActionDrama

The story of the German sail-training ship Pamir that sunk in a hurricane.

Besondere Schwere der Schuld

Besondere Schwere der Schuld · 2014

Besondere Schwere der Schuld

MovieDramaThriller

Joseph Komalschek was sentenced to 30 years in prison for cruelly murdering a young mother and her newborn baby. He never confessed his crimes and the bodies could not be found. After being released from prison, he returns to his hometown. People there treat him with distrust and disdain.

Die Katze

Die Katze · 2007

On a seniors ride a bourgeois widow meets a proletarian man. Out of despair they marry right away without getting to know each other. Moving in with her, he brings a cat, which is a thorn in her eye and a synonym for the rough relationship.

Das Wunder von Lengede

Das Wunder von Lengede · 2003

Das Wunder von Lengede

The film is based on the events surrounding the Lengede mining accident in 1963.

Scene of the Crime

Scene of the Crime · 1970

Scene of the Crime

SeriesDramaCrime

Tatort is a long-running German/Austrian/Swiss crime television series set in various parts of these countries. The show is broadcast on the channels of ARD in Germany, ORF in Austria and SF1 in Switzerland.

A Song for Europe

A Song for Europe · 1985

A Song for Europe

Steven Dyer, an executive working for a giant multinational drugs company, decides to report his employer for breaches of Common Market trading regulations. One night in Basle, Switzerland, he leaves his home to post a letter, the start of a nightmare journey that leads to terrible consequences for his life, his career and for his wife and children.

Nie mehr zweite Liga

Nie mehr zweite Liga · 2000

Nie mehr zweite Liga

MovieComedyCrime

Diesel, Sheriff and Hopper are not only avid Borussia Dortmund fans, they are also best friends. After a game of their hobby team, one of their teammates takes his own life. While still in mourning, the three buddies discover that the deceased had stashed millions of dollars in a hiding place at work. In the midst of their joy over their unexpected wealth, however, they realize that these are flowers, albeit well-made ones. But that doesn't stop the Ruhr Valley couple from having the bills exchanged for real Deutschmarks.

Locker vom Hocker

Locker vom Hocker · 1979

Locker vom Hocker

Alte Bande

Alte Bande · 2019

MovieComedyTV Movie

Boxer is the king of the prison. Nothing happens without him in "his" prison, and if he has to, he will even knock out a much younger inmate - at over 80 years of age, mind you. However, his advanced age is increasingly taking its toll, which has not gone unnoticed by the prison doctor. Boxer is to be transferred to a prison especially for senior citizens - the idea alone makes the sprightly prison veteran shudder. But then his buddy Henne tells him that he has been looking for Boxer's great love Kathrin, and what's more: he has learned that Kathrin has a daughter - and she looks remarkably like Boxer...

Es liegt mir auf der Zunge

Es liegt mir auf der Zunge · 2009

Es liegt mir auf der Zunge

On February 20, 1953, the Nordwestdeutsche Rundfunk broadcast the first cooking show of German post-war television. Clemens Carl Hahn became the TV chef Clemens Wilmenrod. When the "request in ten minutes to table" on the screens flickered, went for the presenter of the show a dream come true: He had designed the cooking show not only the first TV format that was aimed at women, but also a new self invented.

More Like This

Wings of Desire

Wings of Desire · 1987

Wings of Desire

MovieDramaFantasy

Two angels, Damiel and Cassiel, glide through the streets of Berlin, observing the bustling population, providing invisible rays of hope to the distressed but never interacting with them. When Damiel falls in love with lonely trapeze artist Marion, the angel longs to experience life in the physical world, and finds — with some words of wisdom from actor Peter Falk — that it might be possible for him to take human form.

Match Point

Match Point · 2005

MovieDramaRomance

Chris, a former tennis pro, takes a job as an instructor and befriends his wealthy young student, Tom. After being introduced to his family, Chris is soon engaged to Tom's sister, Chloe. Despite the professional and financial advantages that this relationship affords him, Chris becomes obsessed with Tom's fiancee, American actress Nola.

The Untouchables

The Untouchables · 1987

The Untouchables

MovieCrimeHistory

Elliot Ness, an ambitious prohibition agent, is determined to take down Al Capone. In order to achieve this goal, he forms a group given the nickname “The Untouchables”.

Walk on Water

Walk on Water · 2004

Eyal, an Israeli Mossad agent, is given the mission to track down and kill the very old Alfred Himmelman, an ex-Nazi officer, who might still be alive. Pretending to be a tourist guide, he befriends his grandson Axel, in Israel to visit his sister Pia. The two men set out on a tour of the country, during which Axel challenges Eyal's values.

Walk the Line

Walk the Line · 2005

MovieDramaMusic

A chronicle of country music legend Johnny Cash's life, from his early days on an Arkansas cotton farm to his rise to fame with Sun Records in Memphis, where he recorded alongside Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins.

Million Dollar Baby

Million Dollar Baby · 2004

Million Dollar Baby

Despondent over a painful estrangement from his daughter, trainer Frankie Dunn isn't prepared for boxer Maggie Fitzgerald to enter his life. But Maggie's determined to go pro and to convince Dunn and his cohort to help her.

American History X

American History X · 1998

American History X

Derek Vineyard is paroled after serving 3 years in prison for killing two African-American men. Through his brother, Danny Vineyard's narration, we learn that before going to prison, Derek was a skinhead and the leader of a violent white supremacist gang that committed acts of racial crime throughout L.A. and his actions greatly influenced Danny. Reformed and fresh out of prison, Derek severs contact with the gang and becomes determined to keep Danny from going down the same violent path as he did.

The Elementary Particles

The Elementary Particles · 2006

The Elementary Particles

MovieDramaRomance

Based on Michel Houellebecq's controversial novel, Atomised (aka The Elementary Particles) focuses on Michael and Bruno, two very different half-brothers and their disturbed sexuality. After a chaotic childhood with a hippie mother only caring for her affairs, Michael, a molecular biologist, is more interested in genes than women, while Bruno is obsessed with his sexual desires, but mostly finds his satisfaction with prostitutes. But Bruno's life changes when he gets to know the experienced Christiane. In the meantime, Michael meets Annabelle, the love of his youth, again.

Irena's Vow

Irena's Vow · 2024

19 year old Irena Gut is promoted to housekeeper in the home of a highly respected Nazi officer in Poland when she finds out that the Jewish ghetto is about to be liquidated. Determined to help twelve Jewish workers, she decides to shelter them in the safest place she can think of – the basement of the German Major's house. Over the next eight months, Irena uses her wit, humour and immense courage to hide her friends as long as possible.

Ip Man 4: The Finale

Ip Man 4: The Finale · 2019

Ip Man 4: The Finale

MovieActionHistory

Following the death of his wife, Ip Man travels to San Francisco to ease tensions between the local kung fu masters and his star student, Bruce Lee, while searching for a better future for his son.

Spare Parts

Spare Parts · 2015

With the help of their high school's newest teacher, four Hispanic students form a robotics club. Although they have no experience, the youths set their sights on a national robotics contest. With $800 and parts scavenged from old cars, they build a robot and compete against reigning champion MIT. Along the way, the students learn not only how to build a robot but something far more important: how to forge bonds that will last a lifetime.

Bully

MovieCrimeDrama

A group of teenagers in South Florida enact a murder plot against their mutual bully, Bobby, who has emotionally, physically, and sexually abused them for years.

Chopper

Chopper · 2000

MovieCrimeDrama

The true and infamous story of Australia's notorious criminal Mark 'Chopper' Read and his years of crime, interest in violence, drugs and prostitutes.

Rate this film

Your ratings make Midnight smarter