39-41 Parker Street, London
Sat 12 Sept · 11:00
Reverie Cineclub is delighted to present a special selection of six animated shorts from the DEFA Studio for Animation Film in Dresden, Germany, in celebration of its 80th anniversary this year. Founded in 1946, DEFA became East Germany’s state film studio, while its Dresden animation division, established in 1955, went on to become the leading producer of animated films in the GDR, creating more than 750 works across a wide range of techniques, from hand-drawn cartoons to puppet and silhouette stop-motion. Endearingly referred to in Germany as ‘Trickfilme’ – as in a magic trick or illusion created through animation – these children’s films often followed the whimsical adventures of little animals and toys brought to life through tales of slapstick mischief, curiosity and friendship. This joyful selection includes the story of a little frog who longs to explore the world; a cheeky green devil who steals one too many Berliner Pfannkuchen; and Sergei Prokofiev’s beloved symphonic fairy tale for children, Peter and the Wolf. This screening is presented by Reverie Cineclub, dedicated to bringing the spellbinding hidden gems of cinema history to family audiences at The Garden Cinema. For more information about Reverie Cineclub and our upcoming events, please check out our website at reveriecineclub.com Films courtesy of Deutsche Kinemathek – Museum für Film und Fernsehen. Film Descriptions: A Peaceful Day / Ein friedlicher Tag A beetle flees from a bird. There is no hiding place where it is safe from its pursuer. It hides in a dark crevice where the bird’s beak cannot reach. The beetle laughs at the bird. It has not yet realized that it is sitting in the space between the earth and the sole of a man’s shoe. East Germany 1985, Dir: Sieglinde Hamacher 5 min * No dialogue Everyone Helps Teddy / Alle helfen Teddy Nighttime in the kindergarten and the toys are all asleep. Only the little bunny is on night watch. There’s a bad storm outside, but the bunny is brave and gets over its fear. Suddenly, a gust of wind pushes the window open. The bunny panics, and now the teddy bear is in danger! The little bunny, the monkey and the elephant start a rescue operation. East Germany 1960, Dir: Monika Anderson 13 min *No dialogue The Little Frog and His Tire / Vom Fröschlein und seinem Reifen A little frog jumps out of the pond and wants to see the world. He is excited about all his new discoveries… until he meets the dangerous stork, who almost eats him. Luckily, he manages to escape at the last minute. East Germany 1964, Dir: Heinz Nagel 4 min * No dialogue The Race / Der Wettlauf The wire men Kurz (Short) and Lang (Long) want to race each other. They choose a tree on the horizon as their destination. While Kurz prepares for the race, Lang measures the course. Unnoticed, he draws a moat across the track. The start takes place. Initially, Kurz and Lang are tied, but Lang jumps over at the ditch and Kurz remains sadly on the sidelines. The beaming winner is Lang. Kurz calls on the unfair Lang to run a second race. East Germany 1963, Dir: Günter Rätz 6 min *No dialogue Alarm at the Puppet Theater / Alarm im Kasperletheater Funny things happen at night at the puppet theater – especially today, since there were jelly donuts for Grandma’s birthday! When the little green devil decides to run away and take the whole bowl for himself, a grand chase ensues – through the village, over water, and into the sky – as the other puppets try to reclaim their stolen treats. Although the devil eats all the treats, he is rightly punished with a terrible stomachache! This East German animation classic is based on a picture book written by Nils Werner. East Germany 1960, Dir: Lothar Barke 16 min * In German with English subtitles Peter and the Wolf / Peter und der Wolf Peter and the little bird outwit the dangerous wolf. They catch him and bring him to a zoo in a parade. This puppet animation film is based on Sergei Prokofiev’s symphonic fairy tale for children, Peter and the Wolf. Each character in the tale is represented by a corresponding orchestral instrument, helping children learn to distinguish the sound of each instrument. East Germany 1974, Dir: Günter Rätz 14 min * No dialogue On Sunday mornings our Family Screenings are followed by a free activity for Children. The screening is Pay What You Can, which means you’re free to pay as much or as little as you can afford. By paying for a ticket, you will enable us to keep offering Pay What You Can screenings to families struggling with the cost of living. Thank you. About Reverie Cineclub: Founded by National Film and Television School MA graduate Nathasha Orlando Kappler in 2024, Reverie Cineclub specialises in presenting the spellbinding hidden gems of cinema history for the whole family to enjoy. From classic world cinema and early independent animation to experimental shorts, our aim is to introduce young audiences to a range of films that are diverse in language, culture, and form. Please arrive promptly - we do not show adverts.
39-41 Parker Street, London
11:00Sat 12 Sept
Not the same tradition as the lineage above — a genuinely different thread to pull, if you want one.
11:00Sun 13 Sept