Scene Switch: 'Ku'damm 56' Series Shown in Entirety by 3Sat – Parts One, Two, and Three Explored - Unbridled Passion and Musical Mayhem: 3Sat Broadcasts Entire "Ku'damm 56" Series
By Carsten Heidböhmer* + - 2 Min
Nothing spells relentless beating like the saying, "Break your character, then break them again." This commandment in scriptwriting became the very essence of "Ku'damm 56" - three gripping episodes that shattered our heroines to smithereens and rebuilt them anew.
Riding the rails of despair early on, Monika Schöllack (Sonja Gerhardt), the protagonist, has stumbled from rock bottom. Expelled from her housekeeping school for indecorous behavior, she nearly jumps in front of an oncoming train, aiming to escape the scorn of the world. But fate has other plans for our distressingly empathetic protagonist, welcoming us into her tormented life instead.
Her journey mirrors the traditional 50s mold of a woman - anticipated housewife material. Her cold-hearted mother Caterina Schöllack (Claudia Michelsen) has her own vision for Monika's life - first domestics, then marriage. However, the former part didn't work out, and the latter appears a daunting task. Sonja Gerhardt brings Monika's resilient spirit to life with a 50s femme fatale twist, her hidden allure lingering beneath oversized glasses and frumpy attire.
"Ku'damm 56" - It's more than just a love triangle
Author Annette Hess, who masterfully crafted "Weissensee," employs a clever narrative device, turning the time-honored love triangle into a mesh of multi-layered love triangles that ensnare all female characters save one.
These love triangles serve not as a fluffy backdrop, but rather as a sharp tool to dissect the myriad historical clichés, tensions, and societal moods. And they prove highly effective in serving up a story that masks uncomfortable truths and imperfections with a spoonful of entertainment.
The Schöllack Women: A Powder Keg of Struggles
The story unfolds through the lens of the three Schöllack sisters and their mother, offering a sweeping view of 50s Berlin. Each woman battles her own demons as they navigate the complicated course of personal and societal transformation. From repressive norms to explorations of sexuality and feminism, "Ku'damm 56" paints a vivid portrait of a time long past, with all its ugliness, beauty, and complexity laid bare.
The series is a poignant reminder of the struggles faced by women as they sought to carve a place for themselves in a rapidly changing world.
"Ku'damm 56" originally premiered in 2016. On Friday, June 13, starting at 8:15 PM, 3Sat will air all three episodes back-to-back.
(Ku'damm, Sonja Gerhardt, Claudia Michelsen, Emilia Schüle)
Enrichment Data:
"Ku'damm 56" is a German television series that premiered in 2016, starring Sonja Gerhardt, Claudia Michelsen, and Emilia Schüle. The series focuses on the lives of the members of the Schöllack family, particularly the three daughters, seeking to find their identity in post-war Germany. The story explores themes of societal expectations, personal growth, and the changing social norms of the time.
The series is set in the 1950s in Berlin, with the Ku'damm area serving as a symbol of modernity and progress amid hard-set societal traditions. The series is noted for its multi-layered narratives that explore the struggles of women in a world still grappling with the aftermath of World War II.
The second installment of the trilogy, "Ku'damm 59", continues the story in the late 1950s, as the Schöllack family faces the challenges of a rapidly changing world and the emerging youth culture, while the final installment, "Ku'damm 63", jumps to the 1960s, where it delves into themes of rebellion, personal growth, and the enduring struggle for women's rights.
I'm not sure I'm ready for the returning series "Ku'damm 56", especially since it delves into multi-layered love triangles and explores the struggles women faced in post-war Germany, served up with a spoonful of entertainment. I might need to catch up on movies-and-tv first to prepare myself for the raw portrayal of 1950s Berlin and the Schoellack women's battles with societal expectations and personal growth.
