In the 20^th century, film emerged as an exciting and frightening new medium. Whether intended to spread political propaganda, provide an entertaining escape from daily life, or to experiment with new ways of expressing art forms and ideas, film came to be a powerful tool that both reflected and shaped German experiences throughout the century. In this course we will examine films from the early 20^th century to today to see how they have dealt with some of the major social, political and historical issues Germany has faced in the last 100 years. Students will write short assignments for each film, as well as two longer essays, a midterm and a final exam. The class is taught exclusively in German.