Kuhle Wampe or Who Owns the World?

The story

Kuhle Wampe takes place in early-1930s Berlin. The film begins with a montage of newspaper headlines describing steadily-rising unemployment figures. This is followed by scenes of a young man looking for work in the city and the family discussing the unpaid back rent. The young man, brother of the protagonist Anni, removes his wristwatch and throws himself from a window out of despair. Shortly thereafter his family is evicted from their apartment. Now homeless, the family moves into a garden colony of sorts with the name “Kuhle Wampe.”

Cast & crew

Hertha ThieleAnni

Ernst Busch

Ernst BuschFritz

Max Sablotzki

Max SablotzkiVater Bönicke

Lilli Schoenborn

Lilli SchoenbornMutter Bönike

Martha Wolter

Martha WolterGerda

Adolf Fischer

Adolf FischerKurt

Gerhard BienertZeitungsleser

Erwin GeschonneckArbeitersportler

Anna Müller-LinckeSängerin

Helene Weigel

Helene WeigelBallad singer (voice)

Hermann Krehan

Hermann KrehanCast

Hugo Werner-Kahle

Hugo Werner-KahleCast