The Legend of Paul and Paula
The New York Times calls Die Legende von Paul und Paula (1973) a “sentimental favorite of East German cinema.” The film marks a turning point in the style of East German film. Die Legende von Paul und Paula brought new perspectives and a new approach to the art of film, which breathed new life into the stagnant East German cinema of the 1970s.
Written by Ulrich Plenzdorf, produced and directed by Heiner Carow, Die Legende von Paul und Paula tells the story of the struggle of two potentially star-crossed lovers. Paul (Winfried Glatzeder) and Paula (Angelica Domröse) each face their own set of challenges, wrapped up in previous family arrangements, social standards and ideologies that don’t work perfectly in everyday life. The film takes an artistic light-hearted approach to the tale, mixing dreams with reality, the poetry with the prose of life, and humour with sincerity. All of these juxtapositions suit a film that draws attention to the classes within a supposedly classless society.
Paul is unhappily married to the stereotypical trophy wife with attitude; she’s beautiful, unintelligent, and bossy. Paula is unmarried with two children. They meet accidentally in a bar and have an immediate connection, which Paula soon recognizes as their chance at true love. Yet, Paul has an image to uphold as a low-level, but ambitious, bureaucrat with government service. He hesitates before committing to Paula because he needs to re-evaluate his priorities. Unfortunately, it takes the death of one of Paula’s children in a tragic accident for him to realize what he has to do.
Sadly, Paula blames herself for her child’s accident and breaks up with Paul. He has to win her back. His attempts to regain her love so move everyone around him that they take up Paul’s cause. The love between Paula and Paula becomes legendary, especially after Paula dies during the birth of their child.
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