Helmut Käutner

Helmut Käutner was undoubtedly the most prominent and probably also the most important German director of the 1940s and 50s. His name is inextricably linked to films such as "Grosse Freiheit Nr. 7," "Unter den Brücken," and "Der Hauptmann von Köpenick," which earned him the reputation of being the artistic conscience of German cinema. Like no other director, Käutner managed to evade the grasp of the Nazi dictatorship. While the cinema of that time increasingly executed the alignment of the people's community, he told stories of (anti-)heroes who strive for freedom and assert their individual life plans. Even in the post-war period, Käutner stood out from a predominantly commercial film production through his artistic ambition, willingness to experiment, and tackling uncomfortable themes. Although he always incorporated trends from international contemporary cinema, he was later regarded as a significant figure.