German · Upper intermediate (B2) · Chapter 3 of 12
Film, books and media
Film, Buch und Kritik
Talk about films and books in German: sum up a plot, give a nuanced opinion, use participles as adjectives and read a review.
In this chapter you'll learn to
- Sum up the story of a film or a book
- Give an opinion with nuance: ziemlich, eher, durchaus
- Use participles as adjectives: spannend, gespielt
- Understand long participle phrases in reviews
Listen
In Würzburg, Lina (27) and her friend Johannes (30) come out of the cinema after seeing the film of a novel. Listen to the whole dialogue first, then line by line.
Lina
Und? Wie hat dir der Film gefallen?
So? How did you like the film?
Johannes
Ehrlich gesagt bin ich etwas enttäuscht. Die Geschichte fand ich zwar spannend, aber der Film war mir zu lang.
To be honest, I'm a bit disappointed. I did find the story exciting, but the film was too long for me.
Lina
Echt? Ich fand ihn ziemlich gut. Aber ich hatte vorher den Roman gelesen, das hilft natürlich.
Really? I thought it was pretty good. But I'd read the novel before, which helps, of course.
Johannes
Worum geht es im Buch eigentlich genau? Im Film habe ich nicht alles verstanden.
What exactly is the book about? I didn't understand everything in the film.
Lina
Eine junge Ärztin erbt von ihrer Großmutter ein altes Haus an der Mosel. Da findet sie Briefe, die jemand im Krieg versteckt hat, und erfährt nach und nach, was damals in ihrer Familie passiert ist.
A young doctor inherits an old house on the Moselle from her grandmother. There she finds letters that someone hid during the war, and little by little she finds out what happened in her family back then.
Johannes
Die Szenen mit den Briefen waren wirklich gut gemacht. Aber das Ende war mir zu kitschig.
The scenes with the letters were really well done. But the ending was too cheesy for me.
Lina
Im Buch ist das Ende viel offener. Hör mal, was in der Kritik steht: „Die von Marlene Hofmann gespielte Ärztin trägt den ganzen Film.“
In the book the ending is much more open. Listen to what the review says: “The doctor played by Marlene Hofmann carries the whole film.”
Johannes
Da hat die Kritik recht. Sie spielt wirklich überzeugend, und die Musik war auch sehr passend.
The review's right about that. She's really convincing, and the music was very fitting too.
Lina
Und weiter: „Der in nur sechs Wochen gedrehte Film ist durchaus sehenswert, auch wenn er am Ende etwas zu lang wird.“
And it goes on: “The film, which was shot in only six weeks, is certainly worth seeing, even if it gets a little too long towards the end.”
Johannes
Genau das meine ich. Aber jetzt möchte ich das Buch lesen. Leihst du es mir?
That's exactly what I mean. But now I'd like to read the book. Will you lend it to me?
Lina
Klar. Aber ich brauche es in zwei Wochen zurück, dann sprechen wir in meinem Buchclub darüber.
Sure. But I need it back in two weeks, because we're discussing it in my book club then.
Johannes
Kein Problem. So spannend, wie du es beschreibst, lese ich es bestimmt in drei Tagen.
No problem. As exciting as you make it sound, I'll definitely read it in three days.
Understand
Participles as adjectives: spannend, gespielt
Both participles of a verb can be used as adjectives. The Partizip I is the infinitive + -d: → (convincing), → (fitting). It's like English “-ing” and describes something that is happening or has an effect. (exciting) is one too, but people just think of it as an adjective.
The Partizip II is the past participle you know from the Perfekt: (played), (filmed), (hidden). It usually has a passive meaning: something that was done.
Before a noun, both take normal adjective endings: , , , . After they have no ending:
| Verb | Partizip I | Partizip II |
|---|---|---|
| (to convince) | (a convincing actress) | (a committed cyclist) |
| (to surprise) | (a surprising ending) | (a surprised viewer) |
| (to hide) | – | (the hidden letters) |
| (children playing) | (a well-acted play) |
Long participle phrases in reviews
In newspapers and reviews, a participle before a noun often has more words in front of it: die von Marlene Hofmann gespielte Ärztin (the doctor played by Marlene Hofmann). English puts this information after the noun; German puts it between the article and the noun.
To understand such a phrase, find the article (), jump to the noun (), and read the words in between as a relative clause: . You only need to recognise this structure; in conversation, people use relative clauses.
- Der in nur sechs Wochen gedrehte Film ist sehenswert.The film, which was shot in only six weeks, is worth seeing.
- Die in Würzburg lebende Autorin schreibt gerade ihren dritten Roman.The author, who lives in Würzburg, is writing her third novel.
Summing up a story and giving a nuanced opinion
When you sum up a plot, German uses the present tense, just like English: Useful starters are … (it's about …), … (the story is set in …) and ….
A good review is rarely just or . Small words make your opinion more exact:
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| quite, pretty | ||
| rather, more | ||
| certainly, definitely | ||
| a bit | ||
| not quite |
More in the grammar: Participles as adjectives: spannend, gespielt
New words
- enttäuschtdisappointed
- spannendexciting, gripping · a thriller is
- der Romannovel · masculine, plural:
- Worum geht es?What's it about? · … = It's about …
- erbento inherit · = grandmother
- versteckento hide · = war; = during the war; = someone
- erfahrento find out, to learn (news) · , , ; = little by little
- kitschigcheesy, sentimental · ; = scene
- die Kritikreview; criticism · feminine, plural: ; / = critic
- überzeugendconvincing · = to convince; = fitting
- drehento shoot (a film) · also “to turn”;
- sehenswertworth seeing · = worth reading
- leihento lend; to borrow · = Will you lend me the book? Perfekt:
- beschreibento describe · Perfekt:
Practise
1.Which form completes the sentence? “Das war ein sehr ___ Film.”
2.Complete with the Partizip II of .
She finds her grandmother's hidden letters.
3.Complete with the missing word.
What is the book actually about?
4.Put the words in order.
Tap the words below in the right order.The story is set in an old house on the Moselle.
5.Match the words from film reviews.
Pick a word on the left, then its meaning on the right.
6.What does “” mean?
0 of 6 exercises done.
Say it out loud
Worum geht es in dem Buch?
What's the book about?
Listen, then say it out loud, as close to the recording as you can.
Check
Five questions on this chapter. Then mark it as finished to add its words to your review deck.
0 of 5 answered.