The Second Track

Filmed in menacing black and white, this rare noir classic from the legendary DEFA Film Studios is the East German answer to Fritz Lang, Alfred Hitchcock and Carol Reed's The Third Man. A train station inspector witnesses a robbery, and recognizes one of the thieves - but hides this fact from the authorities. Meanwhile the thief sets his partner after the inspector's daughter, setting in motion an explosive unearthing of dark secrets from the Nazi era.

What the Critics are Saying

"A landmark for its frank portrayal of East German complicityin Nazi crimes. Uncanny touches borrow from the vernacular of Hollywood's subversive Europeans: Sirk, Preminger, Wilder." - The Boston Phoenix

"Crisp black-and-white photography and an unusual score (zither plus electronics) add noirish intensity in this terse, effective work!" - SF Bay Guardian

"A true discovery!" - Goethe Institute (Montreal)

"Fascinating!" - San Francisco Examiner