Reviews and features
Read the following reviews and features on Deutschland 83:
The Guardian - Your next box set: Deutschland 83
Daily Telegraph review
The Guardian - Deutschland 83 Pity the Germans don't like it
1) What positive aspects of Deutschland 83 are highlighted in the reviews?
The Guardian: The main actor Jonas Nay portrays Martin 'superbly'. The series is near perfect with nostalgic moments like the supermarket scene when Moritz stares at the produce in awe where popular 80s music is being played.
Telegraph: The detail in capturing how people behaved in this period is 'extremely well done'. They show the contrast in styles in the two areas (the east and the west) by using popular, familiar brands as well as featuring music that was well known at the time. They also show the difference in the languages spoken in the different areas.
2) What criticisms are made of the show?
despite the fact that it has a sense of nostalgia which makes it more relatable to viewers, there is a lack of drama in the show. Another criticism that can be made of the show is that it reinforces negative stereotypes of some officers who use the system to their advantage.
3) Why did the Telegraph suggest that Deutschland 83 did the 'period' aspect of 'period drama' so well?
they paid careful attention to detail to accurately represent life at the time as well as show the contrast between the east and west , while simultaneously creating a sense of nostalgia through using memorable / nostalgic features, such as music, clothing and brands.
4) Find three 'below the line' comments from either of the Guardian articles. What did the audience think of Deutschland 83? Do you agree with the comments?
''The pleasure came from the little details of life on the other side of the Iron Curtain. 1983 isn't so long ago, but Communist East Germany now looks like another planet: the orange curtains, the cheap clothes, the pathetic excitement of teenagers at listening to illicit western pop music, particularly Nena's original German version of 99 Red Balloons.'
''it makes us engage with the socialist regime’s worldview, in which a military exercise in West Germany poses a potentially''
''Based on real events... it was entertaining''
Interviews and behind-the-scenes video features
Channel 4 News: Matt Frei interviews Jonas Nay
1) What does Jonas Nay say about growing up in a united Germany?
he believes that today there isnt an east and west side and is happy that there is freedom to be able to do and think what you want without being monitored the way that life was in the east in deutschland 83. he is proud to be german due to germany's history, however realises that their dark history also needs to be acknowledged.
2) The Channel 4 News interview is conducted in German with English subtitles. How does this reflect Channel 4's remit as a public service broadcaster and their target audience? (Clue: revise your work on Channel 4 and Public Service Broadcasting here!)
Channel 4's remit says that they deliver 'alternative content that challenges the status quo'. Deutschland 83 reflects this as it's in a different language which is less common to see on tv, showing that they provide 'innovative content' by presenting shows that wouldn't normally make it onto other PSB's.
3) Interviewer Matt Frei asks about the current political situation in Germany. Why might this interest the Channel 4 News audience?
because it allows them to hear the opinion of someone who is actually from germany rather than taking information solely from a character that has been created by british directors who edit and sculpt information to what they want to portray. it also gives us more information about how times have changed as deutschland 83 is set in the past, allowing us to clearer see a difference between the time periods.
The All4 website has a range of clips from behind the scenes of Deutschland 83. Watch the following:
Making Of: Why Should You Watch Deutschland 83
Watch this short promotional clip for Deutschland 83.
1) Why should audiences watch Deutschland 83 - what does the clip offer viewers?
it offers an insight to what you could gain from watching this show. It makes the audience more aware of what is to expect from the programme, making viewers more intrigued / interested in the show, without giving away any of the story line.
2) Why is history an important aspect of the appeal of the show?
The history of this show may attract people that have either lived through the cold war and are experiencing it again in a different way through the TV show and may feel a sense of nostalgia or they would be a younger generation who want to know more about what happened. it is also important as they included real life documents that were released, giving it an even more realistic effect for the viewer as they watch it. the show also allows people to be educated about events during the time without realising, in a more interesting way than reading it somewhere.
3) What technical aspects are highlighted in the video?
The editing is fast paced and it is also action packed. All the scenes that show the history are authentic and put in post-production. The camerawork, costume and production design is similar to 'event movies' that paved the way for these types of films.
Making Of: Set Design
Watch this interview with Production designer Lars Lange.
1) Why were the set design, costume and props so important for Deutschland 83?
because the producers wanted to create a realistic atmosphere of how the East and West were with one being much more serious and the other being relaxed - they needed to show the contrast between the east and west by making them look 'physically different' while also transmitting the same thing, like when they created the sets for the monitoring stations. it is also important to create a realistic effect to keep the aesthetic of a period drama.
2) How historically accurate was the setting, costume and props?
they were 'ultimately fantasies that come close to the truth' as people actually dont know what certain things actually looked like during the real life events as they were kept a secret - such as the monitoring stations, therefore they did as much research as they could to get the best idea of what they would of looked like. on the other hand other settings and props were very accurate as they used original motifs of the museum to recreate it, and also rented out the original Robotron computers.
3) Why were the props, costumes and music such a key audience pleasure for Deutschland 83?
Read the following reviews and features on Deutschland 83:
The Guardian - Your next box set: Deutschland 83
Daily Telegraph review
The Guardian - Deutschland 83 Pity the Germans don't like it
1) What positive aspects of Deutschland 83 are highlighted in the reviews?
The Guardian: The main actor Jonas Nay portrays Martin 'superbly'. The series is near perfect with nostalgic moments like the supermarket scene when Moritz stares at the produce in awe where popular 80s music is being played.
Telegraph: The detail in capturing how people behaved in this period is 'extremely well done'. They show the contrast in styles in the two areas (the east and the west) by using popular, familiar brands as well as featuring music that was well known at the time. They also show the difference in the languages spoken in the different areas.
2) What criticisms are made of the show?
despite the fact that it has a sense of nostalgia which makes it more relatable to viewers, there is a lack of drama in the show. Another criticism that can be made of the show is that it reinforces negative stereotypes of some officers who use the system to their advantage.
they paid careful attention to detail to accurately represent life at the time as well as show the contrast between the east and west , while simultaneously creating a sense of nostalgia through using memorable / nostalgic features, such as music, clothing and brands.
4) Find three 'below the line' comments from either of the Guardian articles. What did the audience think of Deutschland 83? Do you agree with the comments?
''The pleasure came from the little details of life on the other side of the Iron Curtain. 1983 isn't so long ago, but Communist East Germany now looks like another planet: the orange curtains, the cheap clothes, the pathetic excitement of teenagers at listening to illicit western pop music, particularly Nena's original German version of 99 Red Balloons.'
''it makes us engage with the socialist regime’s worldview, in which a military exercise in West Germany poses a potentially''
''Based on real events... it was entertaining''
Interviews and behind-the-scenes video features
Channel 4 News: Matt Frei interviews Jonas Nay
1) What does Jonas Nay say about growing up in a united Germany?
he believes that today there isnt an east and west side and is happy that there is freedom to be able to do and think what you want without being monitored the way that life was in the east in deutschland 83. he is proud to be german due to germany's history, however realises that their dark history also needs to be acknowledged.
2) The Channel 4 News interview is conducted in German with English subtitles. How does this reflect Channel 4's remit as a public service broadcaster and their target audience? (Clue: revise your work on Channel 4 and Public Service Broadcasting here!)
Channel 4's remit says that they deliver 'alternative content that challenges the status quo'. Deutschland 83 reflects this as it's in a different language which is less common to see on tv, showing that they provide 'innovative content' by presenting shows that wouldn't normally make it onto other PSB's.
3) Interviewer Matt Frei asks about the current political situation in Germany. Why might this interest the Channel 4 News audience?
because it allows them to hear the opinion of someone who is actually from germany rather than taking information solely from a character that has been created by british directors who edit and sculpt information to what they want to portray. it also gives us more information about how times have changed as deutschland 83 is set in the past, allowing us to clearer see a difference between the time periods.
The All4 website has a range of clips from behind the scenes of Deutschland 83. Watch the following:
Making Of: Why Should You Watch Deutschland 83
Watch this short promotional clip for Deutschland 83.
1) Why should audiences watch Deutschland 83 - what does the clip offer viewers?
it offers an insight to what you could gain from watching this show. It makes the audience more aware of what is to expect from the programme, making viewers more intrigued / interested in the show, without giving away any of the story line.
2) Why is history an important aspect of the appeal of the show?
The history of this show may attract people that have either lived through the cold war and are experiencing it again in a different way through the TV show and may feel a sense of nostalgia or they would be a younger generation who want to know more about what happened. it is also important as they included real life documents that were released, giving it an even more realistic effect for the viewer as they watch it. the show also allows people to be educated about events during the time without realising, in a more interesting way than reading it somewhere.
3) What technical aspects are highlighted in the video?
The editing is fast paced and it is also action packed. All the scenes that show the history are authentic and put in post-production. The camerawork, costume and production design is similar to 'event movies' that paved the way for these types of films.
Making Of: Set Design
Watch this interview with Production designer Lars Lange.
1) Why were the set design, costume and props so important for Deutschland 83?
because the producers wanted to create a realistic atmosphere of how the East and West were with one being much more serious and the other being relaxed - they needed to show the contrast between the east and west by making them look 'physically different' while also transmitting the same thing, like when they created the sets for the monitoring stations. it is also important to create a realistic effect to keep the aesthetic of a period drama.
2) How historically accurate was the setting, costume and props?
they were 'ultimately fantasies that come close to the truth' as people actually dont know what certain things actually looked like during the real life events as they were kept a secret - such as the monitoring stations, therefore they did as much research as they could to get the best idea of what they would of looked like. on the other hand other settings and props were very accurate as they used original motifs of the museum to recreate it, and also rented out the original Robotron computers.
3) Why were the props, costumes and music such a key audience pleasure for Deutschland 83?
because they create a sense of nostalgia - particularly for those who lived through the events as recreating settings to be almost exactly the same as they were in real life, as well as including popular music from the time period and using original props allow the audience to feel familiar with the show and feel like they can relate to it better.
Textual analysis: trailer
1) The opening of the trailer uses sound and editing to draw the audience in. Explain why this is effective.
it opens with ronald reagans speech which would catch the audiences attention as viewers who have lived to hear it or have been taught about it would recognise it, giving them a vague idea of what the show might be about. familiar music from the time is also used throughout the trailer and as the music becomes more intense you see more fast paced editing, showing a number of short clips from the series. these brief showcases of different scenes allow us to see snippets of the action that is to come. showing such short clips of each scene further allows the audience to get an idea of what the storyline is about but reveals little information to tease the viewer and make them more intrigued to watch the show. the whole trailer is also in english, giving the audience the impression that the show will be too, which is done deliberately so that they are not put off by the fact that it is in another language.
2) What audience pleasures are suggested by the trailer? Think about Uses & Gratifications theory (Blumler and Katz).
an audience pleasure that is suggested would be diversion as the trailer creates the first impression that it is an crime drama or spy thriller type of movie as there are a lot of action clips and violence. another audience pleasure would be nostalgia which is created through the speech as it is a memorable event in time, as well as the music which was popular during the 80s, making it recognisable to viewers who grew up during this time.
3) How does the trailer use action and enigma codes (Barthes) to encourage the audience to watch the show?
engima codes are created as only a few seconds of certain scenes are shown, briefly introducing the audience to some of the characters in the show and giving them an idea of what events might occur. some of the action in the clips create enigma codes such as:
-why is he running away?
-who is he running from?
-why is a gun being pointed at him?
-what is in the briefcase?
-who is the woman on the hospital bed?
-why does the man punch the wall next to the woman?
-why is there an explosion?
4) Pick three shots/scenes from the trailer that capture the spy thriller sub-genre. Why might this appeal to an audience? Try and apply Neale's genre theory 'repetition and difference' (the original notes on genre theory are here).
three shots / scenes would be when a hand grabs Martin's shoulder from behind him, when somebody in a bullet proof vest and helmet walk in shooting a gun and when he opens the door and someone is pointing a gun at him. these scenes capture the spy thriller sub genre as there is the black glove suggests that somebody is trying not to get caught as this part of a costume / prop is often seen when somebody doesnt want to leave their fingerprints on something. there is also the repetiton of violence and weaponry as two of the shots include a gun, linking to Neale's genre theory as this theme is repeated but in different ways, to make the it seem more surprising and exciting/intense each time.
5) Pick three examples of mise-en-scene from the trailer that capture the 1983 setting the confirm the sub-genre of period drama. Why might this appeal to an audience?
-the scene where Martin changes from an eastern outfit to a western outfit
-the supermarket scene where the products are lined up to look similar to pop art
-the imagery of old technology that we dont have today.
6) The trailer uses the song 'Two Tribes' by Frankie Goes To Hollywood. Why did the producers select this soundtrack for the trailer?
because the mood and tone of the song fits the events shown in the trailer in terms of pace and intensity as well as also fitting the narrative well as it hints that there is some kind of conflict. not only that, it is also a popular song from the 80s that can be recognised by audiences that grew up around this time.
7) The only words heard in the trailer are in English. Why do you think the UK trailer avoided subtitles or German dialogue?
it gives the audience the impression that the whole show will be in english too, which is done deliberately so that the audience are not put off by the fact that it is in another language. it continues to lead the audience to believe that it is like other dramas or spy thrillers, creating the impression that they will like the series as it would have the key conventions that they enjoy.
Production and industry context
Deutschland 83 was produced by German production company UFA Fiction and distributed internationally by FremantleMedia International. It was broadcast on RTL (Germany), SundanceTV (US) and Channel 4 (UK) as well as many other broadcasters around the world.
1) Read this Freemantle Media press release on the worldwide success of Deutschland 83. How is the drama described by the distributor? Why was it considered such an international success?
The CEO describes it as the compelling series that captivated viewers around the world. The show was produced by award winning creators and directors.
2) Read this Freemantle Media press release on Deutschland 83 becoming Channel 4's highest rated foreign drama. What was the consolidated viewing figure for Episode 1 of Deutschland 83? What praise for Deutschland 83 is included in the press release?
The consolidated viewing figure was 2.5 million and the praise was that it is best known for a foreign language drama which has a culmination of German history and the war.
3) How does the press release promote the Channel 4 'Walter Presents' collection of international TV drama?
The show has subtitles in English for domestic viewers, Walter Presents reviewing and promoting this means that the collection of TV Drama that they recommend will be taken as seriously in both domestic and international languages.
Walter Presents
Watch this Channel 4 trailer for their Walter Presents international drama.
1) How does Channel 4 introduce 'Walter'?
as someone who has impeccable taste that seeks out to find the most compelling dramas and someone who we should trust as he is trusted by channel 4.
2) What audience are Channel 4 trying to appeal to with the 'Walter Presents' series?
they are trying to appeal to higher, more educated classes such as an ABC1 class as to get a audience that enjoys foreign language shows, who understands more about culture than those of a C2DE class viewer would.
3) How does the 'Walter Presents' series reflect the changing nature of television in the digital age?
They tell the audience that box sets are available online, showing how tv shows are watched more frequently online now rather than on actual tv.
Marketing and promotion
Look at the online Channel 4 press pack for Deutschland 83.
1) Read the programme information from the press pack. How does the programme information seek to interest a reader from the first paragraph?
it includes historical information, tying in the plot and key points about the differences between east and west germany. The recognition that it is based off of 'real events' also suggests that the reader gains might gain some kind of gratification by learning about the war. not only this, it also creates an element of nostalgia for those who could remember this specific time of the war.
2) What does the programme information suggest the main strengths of the programme are?
it is stylish, fast-paced and utterly gripping.
3) Read the press pack interview with writer Anna Winger. How did she use the historical context and real-life events to create a successful drama?
She interviewed politicians, former and current intelligence officials and just regular people for further knowledge on the facts. They gave the perspective of both sides of the show and through the life of a spy, something that most other shows haven't done. This gave the audience a good insight into both sides - they get to see/learn something they never knew of. One part of creating the the detail of the drama is that the cast and crew all had their experiences of what Germany was before and/or after the wall came down and they also worked a lot on this show to create it as accurate as they could while still being entertaining.
4) Anna Winger discusses the use of music. Why might the soundtrack attract an audience?
People are familiar with the 80s soundtrack and may feel a sense of nostalgia from it.
International marketing
Look at these two different marketing campaigns - the UK DVD release (left) and the American Sundance TV advert (right).
1) How does the UK DVD cover communicate the sub-genre of the drama?
The copy used on the wall, 'Over the wall. Under cover.', suggests some sort of mission or secret job is going to take place during the series, informing the reader that the sub-genre is a spy thriller. In the review used at the bottom of the DVD cover, 'A gripping Cold War thriller', the audience can see that the programme is under the genre of thriller, but is also has a historical element to it as it mentions the cold war.
2) Analyse the mise-en-scene in the UK DVD cover. What does it communicate to the audience?
the US poster appears to be more current compared to the UK one ass the font isnt traditional and looks more modern and the UK ones has minimal links to war, besides from the quote at the bottom. the US poster also has a historic twist as it uses bright, bold colours that are much more eye catching, linking to the idea of popart, taking the main theme of the poster back to the 80s.
3) How does the American branding use font, colour and graphics to appeal to an audience?
they use much brighter and bolder colours which would attract the audiences attention more. the poster also gives a better idea as to what the series is about as we can see the main character, and his outfit which alludes to the idea that it is to do with the war.
4) Why might the distributors Freemantle Media International have used different marketing campaigns in different countries?
Two different marketing campaigns have been used in two different countries as they are trying to appeal and attract different audiences which would make the viewer listing have a wider range of audiences.
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