A German Life

Brunhilde Pomsel described herself as just being a side-line figure and not at all interested in politics, but she got closer to one of the worst criminals in world history than anyone else presently alive. Today aged 106, Pomsel used to work as secretary for the Nazi Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels. Her life mirrors the major historical ruptures of the 20th century. Nowadays, many people presume that the dangers of war and fascism have long been overcome. Brunhilde Pomsel makes it clear that this is certainly not the case. “A German Life” forces viewers to ask themselves what they would have done and whether they would have sacrificed any possible moral principles, in order to advance their own careers. Her extraordinary biography and unique personal journey into the past lead to disturbing and timeless questions: Have we moved on or are we still unclear about our own morals and humanity and more importantly: Where do I stand on these issues today?

A German Life is a contrapuntal fugue between official images and a personal voice. Annette Insdorf, Huffington Post

This film is truly a piece of art. - Jay Rosenblatt, Program Director, San Francisco Jewish Film Festival