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Reflecting on Christmas in Germany

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REFLECTING ON CHRISTMAS IN GERMANY

Happy New Year, dear readers!  I hope you had wonderful holidays and enjoyed good food and company!  I just got back a few days ago from my vacation in Germany. While it was amazing to see many friends and family after more than three years, I am so happy to be surrounded by sunshine again.  

Let me tell you, from the 16 days I was in my homeland, at least 14 of them were covered by grey clouds.  At least my mood was full of sunshine as I was excited to relax and also spend some great quality time with people that are very close to me.   And even though I keep saying that I don’t see myself living in Germany again, it is always hard leaving family and friends behind when it’s time to go back home. [Read more…] about Reflecting on Christmas in Germany

Exploring German Christmas Markets

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EXPLORING GERMAN CHRISTMAS MARKETS

Christmas time is here.  Happiness and cheer. My dear readers, there is no doubt and no denying that It’s the most wonderful time of the year.  Every radio station is blasting at least one Christmas song per hour, houses are loaded with Christmas decorations, and the candy isles in the supermarkets offer various delicious Christmas treats for our indulgence.  

I am a big fan of this season and everything that comes with it, especially the Christmas markets.  And this year, I finally have the opportunity again to travel to Germany during this wonderful time to indulge in lots of mulled wine and crepes with Kinderschokolade (yum).  Needless to say, during this time my healthy eating and fitness are not my main priority, but I do believe in balance and that treating yourself here and there is a necessity.

It’s been a hot minute since I stepped foot onto a German Christmas market, around four years, to be exact (oh my!).  Trust me, if you have ever been, you can relate about how big of a deal that might be. For this year’s trip, I have already mapped out three opportunities to stop by for the occasional mulled wine or sweet treat. [Read more…] about Exploring German Christmas Markets

Interview with Til Schweiger – Film ‘Head Full Of Honey’ Opens November 30th in L.A.

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Head Full Of Honey Movie - Til SchweigerDo You Remember Til Schweiger’s Film Honig im Kopf?

It was the most successful comedy-drama film in Germany in 2014, albeit discussing a difficult topic: Alzheimer’s.

This week on Friday, November 30th, 2018, Head Full Of Honey, Til Schweiger’s English language remake opens in select theaters in Los Angeles and New York.

“Head Full of Honey” stars multiple Academy-Award® nominee Nick Nolte as Amadeus, a recent widower whose strong personality, charm and sense of humor can no longer mask the life-altering onset of Alzheimer’s. He and his granddaughter Tilda (Sophia Lane Nolte) develop a special bond. Tilda’s patience and affection for her grandfather become his strongest link to life. Tilda tries to help her grandfather, Amadeus (Nick Nolte) navigate his increasing forgetfulness, and ends up going on a remarkable adventure with him.

Among the notable cast are also Oscar nominee Matt Dillon (Amadeus’ son Nick), Emily Mortimer (Nick’s wife, Sarah) as well as Jacqueline Bisset and Greta Scacchi, and others.

Written and directed by acclaimed German actor and filmmaker Til Schweiger and based on his earlier successful German film release, this poignant generational drama marks Schweiger’s English-language directorial debut.

About “HEAD FULL OF HONEY”
A CONVERSATION with Writer, Director and Producer TIL SCHWEIGER

QUESTION:  “Head Full of Honey” centers on Amadeus, played by Nick Nolte, who is struggling with the onset of Alzheimer’s and all the frustration and confusion that comes along with it. But his experience is part of a larger story. What are some of the themes and ideas the movie touches on? [Read more…] about Interview with Til Schweiger – Film ‘Head Full Of Honey’ Opens November 30th in L.A.

Happy German Unity Day!

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800px-World_Cup_2006_German_fans_at_Bochum.jpgTag der Deutschen Einheit 

A relatively young country is celebrating its coming of age

When I was in elementary school, there was no certainty when or if the two Germanys would ever reunite. Every time I visited the United States then, I was met with great interest by many trying to figure out which Germany I was from. … “Are you from West Germany?”, ” Have you ever been to the East?”, and so on …

Nowadays it’s almost unthinkable that Germany, as it looks and feels today, has not always been like that. It had to go through a lot of growing pains!

From its birth as a united country in 1871, to forcefully being separated after WW II, to miraculously being reunited in 1989.

Germany’s reawakening

Germany has gone through quite some changes during my lifetime. I would have never anticipated seeing the German people cheering on the streets with cars happily sporting the German flag. Young people proudly singing the German national anthem and having the colors of the German flag painted onto their faces.

This was 2006. And we happened to be visiting Germany while the country was hosting the Soccer World Cup. We witnessed first hand this newly found self-confidence of a ‘new’ Germany.  It still gives me the shivers!

It’s good to see Germans being proud of their country again. May the past, however, not wane as a reminder of the darker times that Germany lived through but encourage the German people to stand up for the ideals of humanity, social justice, freedom and equality, and keep its doors open to a world that is moving closer and closer together.

My best wishes to a beautiful young country! I am glad you have been finding your way.

Much luck for the future.

Now let’s celebrate! 

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Credits: © Arne Müseler / www.arne-mueseler.de / CC-BY-SA-3.0

The Captain – A new film by Robert Schwentke on the true story of the Executioner of Emsland

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THE CAPTAIN, a new German biopic, is based on the true story of the Executioner of Emsland in the final days of WWII . It opens in Los Angeles on August 10th at the Nuart Theatre with a Q&A session with director Robert Schwentke to follow.

About The Movie:

Based on the arresting true story of the Executioner of Emsland, THE CAPTAIN follows a German army deserter, Willi Herold (Max Hubacher), after he finds an abandoned Nazi captain’s uniform in the final weeks of World War II. Emboldened by the authority the uniform grants him, he amasses a band of stragglers who cede to his command despite the suspicions of some. Citing direct orders from the Fuhrer himself, he soon takes command of a camp holding German soldiers accused of desertion and begins to dispense harsh justice. Increasingly intoxicated by the unquestioned authority, this enigmatic imposter soon discovers that many people will blindly follow the leader, whomever that happens to be.
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Simultaneously a historical docudrama and sociological examination with undertones of the absurd, THE CAPTAIN presents fascism as something of a game to be played by those most gullible and unscrupulous.
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Director: 
Robert Schwentke (Red, Insurgent, Tattoo)
Main Cast includes : Max Hubacher as Willi Herold (Night Train to Lisbon), Milan Peschel as Freytag (The Manny/Der Nanny),  Frederick Lau as Kipinski (Victoria),  Alexander Fehling as Junker (Inglorious Basterds)
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Watch The Movie for FREE !

Claim one pair of tickets from us that invites you and a friend to see the movie at the Nuart Theatre starting August 13th. (More information is printed on the ticket)

Send an email to californiagermans(AT)gmail.com with “Let me watch The Captain for Free” in the subject line. We will select one winner at random from the first 10 people who email us.

Credits: Images and Video by Music Box Films
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My Top Five Things About Summer in Germany

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MY TOP FIVE THINGS ABOUT SUMMER IN GERMANY

With 100 degrees Fahrenheit in Huntington Beach this past Friday, Southern California let its residents know that summer has arrived in all of its glory.  While I do have to admit that everything over 80 degrees is getting a little tough to handle, I am an avid fan of this season.  I mean, the great summer weather was one of the main reasons why I chose to reside in this beautiful place on earth.

When I was living in Germany, summers were unpredictable.  It could rain any day; One day it could be 65 degrees Fahrenheit (bring out those winter coats), followed by a day of excessive heat with 95 degrees and humidity; I could be laying by the lake sunbathing and then having to lock myself up in my apartment the next day to escape a huge thunderstorm. [Read more…] about My Top Five Things About Summer in Germany

Watching the FIFA World Cup in the U.S. Versus Germany

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WATCHING THE FIFA WORLD CUP IN THE U.S. VERSUS GERMANY

After four years of drought, the time has finally come again: The FIFA World Cup is back.  Even though Germany didn’t showcase its best performance in the first game against Mexico, I do have high hopes for the team.

While I was living in Germany, I never was a really big soccer fan, nor did I have a favorite team I rooted for.  But when it was time for the European and World Cup, I did a whole 180 and turned into a soccer maniac– including dressing up with accessories and attending public viewings.

One might think that I am a major bandwagon, and I have no problem to admit that.  But before you judge me, I would love to explain my reasoning behind my transformation: I just love the energy that is going on during a World Cup.  It feels like the whole country becomes a union where everyone is welcomed and we celebrate together as a team.

[Read more…] about Watching the FIFA World Cup in the U.S. Versus Germany

In Love with ‘The Sun’ featured in the Transitions Lenses Commercial

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WHO IS PAROV STELAR?

Do you know that feeling? You are watching a commercial on TV and suddenly you can’t get enough of it.  You are just waiting for this particular commercial to come back on the screen. But not so much because of the commercial but rather for its SONG!

That is what’s happening to me right now when I hear or see the Transitions Lenses Commercial. And, depending on the channel you are watching, you can actually see it quite often these days!

What drew me in to the commercial was the spirit of the song, which is by the way masterfully paired with beautiful images. (Thumbs up for the Transitions’ marketing department here.)

My family doesn’t much watch TV usually, but sometimes in the evenings the TV just seems to be on almost to provide some ‘white background noise’. On one of these days, this particular song lured me out, made me stop whatever I was doing, and beckoned to just listen… [Read more…] about In Love with ‘The Sun’ featured in the Transitions Lenses Commercial

Did you buy tickets to the NBFF German Spotlight Event? Win a Pair and Go for Free!

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NBFF German Spotlight Movie & European Showcase Party  – May 1, 2018

The 19th Newport Beach Film Festival has already started and is delighting Orange County film aficionados since April 26. If you are interested in viewing the German Spotlight movie “My Blind Date With Life”, then you are just in time to read our post.

WIN A PAIR OF TICKETS to attend both, movie & party, for Free

We have a pair of tickets to give away that will allow you not only to see the movie but also attend the German Spotlight/European Showcase Celebration after the film screening!

Please send an email to californiagermans[at]gmail.com and put “German Spotlight Event Free Tickets” in the subject line. We will choose one random winner out of the first 10 emails we receive.

DIDN’T WIN the Free Tickets – USE special CODE to save $10

Tickets for the Movie & Party are usually $ 45. You can see only the movie for $20. If you haven’t won our free tickets you can still be part of the event and save $10 when you buy tickets with our Discount code: FPTENOFF  [Read more…] about Did you buy tickets to the NBFF German Spotlight Event? Win a Pair and Go for Free!