Katrin Sass was awarded the German Film Prize for her excellent acting in "Heidi M." two years ago and thus made a great come-back. Impressive too was her portrayal in Wolfgang Becker's tragi-comedy "Good-Bye Lenin".

Katrin Sass was born in Schwerin, East Germany, on October 23, 1956. After a training period with the telephone board she studied at the school of acting in Rostock and was taken on in 1979 by director Heiner Carow for the main role in "Bis dass der Tod Euch scheidet". After this film she became one of the most successful actresses in East Germany.

In addition to all her other awards she received the Silver Bear for best actress at the 1982 Berlinale for her role in Hermann Zschoche's "Bürgschaft für ein Jahr". In 1987 she received the Critics. Prize for Roland Gräf's "Das Haus am Fluss". Moreover, Katrin Sass is also a stage actress.

At the moment Katrin Sass can be seen starring in the drama "Babiy Yar", which has just been released. Recently her autobiography was published and in it the author recounts all the ups and downs of her life.


FILMS (Excerpt)

1979		Bis dass der Tod Euch scheidet
1981		Bürgschaft für ein Jahr
1985		Der Traum vom Elch
1986		Das Haus am Fluss
1998		The Hardship Test
2001		Heidi M.
2003		Good Bye, Lenin

Babij Jar
Director: Jeff Kanew, D/SU 2002, 108 min, 35 mm, b/w, GV
We, October 29 14:45 CinemaxX 3
Su, November 2 13:15 CinemaxX 4



The Lerners, a Jewish family, and the Ukrainian Oufrienkos have lived side by side in a terraced house in Kiev and have been best of friends for 20 years. This comes to a tragic end when German troops arrive. This film is about one of the worst Nazi crimes of all and its effects on these families. It is about the murder of 40,000 Jews in the ravine of Babiy Yar, which took place on September 29-30, 1941. (A number of the victims were relatives of producer Arthur Brauner.) This is a film that gets under your skin starring Katrin Saß in the unusual role of a grasping informer.




Good Bye Lenin
Director: Wolfgang Becker, D 2002, 118 min, 35 mm, colour, GV
We, October 29 19:45 Universum 3
Su, November 2 10:45 CinemaxX 4 Guest: Katrin Saß



This year's most successful German film combines comedy with melancholy and the East with the West. Shortly before the Wall falls dyed-in-the-wool Socialist Christiane Kerner (Katrin Saß) has a heart attack, falls into a coma out of which she wakes months later. Fearing a relapse, her son Alex (Daniel Brühl) does not tell her the Wall has fallen and for his bedridden mother acts as if life is still like it always was in East Germany...




Bürgschaft für ein Jahr
Director: Herrmann Zschoche, DDR 1981, 93 min, 35 mm, colour, GV
Th, October 30 20:00 Universum 1 Guest: Katrin Saß
Fr, October 31 20:00 Universum 3



A civil engineer and a teacher stand surety for divorced mother Nina Kern and help her to retrieve her youngest daughter from the children's home. Nina tries to hold a job as a cleaning lady and be a good mother to her daughter.

At the 1982 Berlinale this film won the International Catholic Film Bureau Prize; Katrin Saß received the Silver Bear as best actress. In the GDR the film also received several prices.




Das Haus am Fluss
Director: Roland Gräf, DDR 1985, 105 min, 35 mm, colour, GV
We, October 29 13:00 CinemaxX 1
Fr, October 31 17:30 Universum 1 Guests: Katrin Saß, Roland Gräf



The story of Mrs. Voß, daughters Agnes and Lisbeth and daughter-in-law Emmi, whose husbands are fighting on the Eastern front. Agnes, who wishes for a fur coat from Russia, succumbs to the wooing of her boss. Paul, Emmi's husband, falls at the front, and Emmi takes her life. Agnes gets her fur coat after all although the price is high...




Fallada - letztes Kapitel
Director: Roland Gräf, DDR 1988, 103 min, 35 mm, colour, GV
Sa, November 1 20:00 Universum 1 Guests: Katrin Saß, Roland Gräf



The last ten years in the life of the writer Hans Fallada, 1937-1947. Retired in Mecklenburg, he writes nothing of importance, but intoxicates himself with drink and pills. His wife Anna leaves him when he begins an affair with Ursula Losch, who is addicted to morphine and drags him down as well. When appointed mayor at the end of the war, he cannot deal with the task...




Heidi M.
Director: Michael Klier, D 2001, 90 min, 35 mm, colour, GV
Fr, October 31 13:00 CinemaxX 4 Guest: Katrin Saß
Sa, November 1 11:00 CinemaxX 4 Guest: Katrin Saß



Alone and lonely, Heidi M., fifty, runs a small store and cafe in East Berlin. Bars and adventures end in frustration. By chance she gets to know a man who is her age and a single parent. The way is open for an affair, perhaps also for a second marriage?

"Heidi M." is a moving film about fears and perfectly normal people, who sometimes get between themselves and happiness. Katrin Saß received the National Film Prize in 2001 for acting and the German critics' prize in 2002.




Bis dass der Tod euch scheidet
Director: Heiner Carow, DDR 1979, 96 min, 35 mm, colour, GV
Th, October 30 17:30 Universum 1 Guest: Katrin Saß



Construction worker Jens and sales assistant Sonja are married and have a flat. After their child arrives Sonja secretly gets her specialist diploma. Jens is beside himself with rage and hits her. The couple's loving relationship turns into unbridled hate.

Heiner Carow's film deals with lower middleclass behaviour, but also with sensuality, high spirits, selfishness and self-sacrifice in a manwoman relationship.




Der Traum vom Elch
Director: Siegfried Kühn, DDR 1986, 89 min, 35 mm, colour, GV
Fr, October 31 15:00 Universum 1 Guest: Katrin Saß



Nurses Anna and Anette have problems with men. Anna dreams of Markus and awaits their next meeting. Anette loves the painter Ludwig, but he dislikes her clinging and repulses her. She commits suicide after the break with Ludwig, and Anna too is cast into a emotional crisis.

For this film Katrin Saß won the best actress award in 1986 and Siegfried Kühn won the critics' prize.




Heute sterben immer nur die anderen
Director: Siegfried Kühn, D 1989, 77 min, 35 mm, colour, GV
Sa, November 1 17:30 Universum 1 Guest: Katrin Saß



Actresses Hanna, Maria and Lisa meet again after years of separation. Maria has cancer and hasn't much longer to live. Hanna offers to help put Maria out of her misery. The viewer is forced to confront the notion of death in a film that stresses human decency and selfless spiritual strength.




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