Das Boot (1981). Plot: This classic war film follows the crew of a German U-boat during World War II as they face life-and-death decisions in extreme conditions. The submarine’s captain and crew meticulously analyze every situation, weighing risks and gathering all available information before making critical decisions. Their survival depends on only committing to actions they are certain they can carry out.
Gundermann
Gundermann (2018). Plot: The biopic of East German singer-songwriter Gerhard Gundermann explores his double life as both a celebrated musician and a Stasi informant. The film delves into Gundermann’s internal struggle with the commitments he makes, showing how he seeks to understand the full context and consequences before giving his word.
hidden mental processes
German film scholarship, as noted by critics like Siegfried Kracauer and Walter Benjamin, often emphasizes how cinema can reveal the “hidden mental processes” and the importance of context in shaping individual and collective outcomes. Films that neglect or underestimate context frequently use this as a narrative device to explore the consequences—sometimes tragic—of such oversights.
Yasemin
Yasemin (1988). Director: Hark Bohm. Plot: A romance between a Turkish-German woman and a German man in Hamburg, set against the backdrop of cultural expectations and integration. The film explores how cultural context—tradition, family expectations, and integration—shapes both personal and professional relationships. Business and workplace interactions are influenced by cultural misunderstandings and the need for sensitivity to different backgrounds.
serious ramifications
German dramas, especially those set in finance or corporate worlds, often emphasize the risks of acting on incomplete information. They reflect a cultural lesson: in German business culture, overlooking context is not just a minor error—it can have serious professional and personal ramifications.
Series like Bad Banks and select episodes of Tatort and Bad Cop: Kriminell gut illustrate that underestimating context in business can result in failed ventures, loss of reputation, or even legal trouble. These dramas reinforce the German business value of thorough preparation and contextual awareness before making commitments or decisions.
The Crime Scene Cleaner
Der Tatortreiniger (The Crime Scene Cleaner). Overview: This dark comedy follows Heiko “Schotty” Schotte, a crime scene cleaner who encounters a wide variety of people and situations. Each episode centers on Schotty’s interactions with clients and bystanders, exploring how personal backgrounds, social norms, and unspoken expectations affect communication and problem-solving in professional encounters. The show cleverly uses these encounters to highlight the importance of understanding context in any professional service role.
Lindenstraße
Lindenstraße. Overview: One of Germany’s longest-running soap operas, set on a fictional street in Munich. While not strictly a business show, Lindenstraße frequently explores workplace issues, social integration, and professional relationships. The show’s storylines demonstrate how social context—such as cultural background, community ties, and current events—directly impacts professional and personal interactions.
First check, then commit.
Erst prüfen, dann zusagen. Literal translation: First check, then commit. Meaning: Emphasizes the importance of thoroughly reviewing all information before making a commitment.
Kollegenschwein
Der Kollege, the colleague, masculine. Die Kollegin, the colleague, feminine. Das Schwein. The pig, neutral. Kollegenschwein, the colleague-pig. That translation doesn’t really work in English. So what is a Kollegenschwein?
Well, in the German work context it’s a colleague who escalates a conflict between two colleagues or within the team too early, too quickly, too hastily up to the next management level, meaning up to the team-lead.
“Wait, what’s wrong with escalating a conflict to the next level so that that level can mediate and resolve the conflict? That’s one of the things that management gets paid for.” An American would ask that question. And perhaps someone from another business culture. But not someone in the German business context. Because Germans only escalate a conflict as a option of last resort. And why is that?
For one, you never know how the next level management will react, will resolve the conflict. It could be an outcome much worse that continuing to attempt to work things out amongst yourselves.
Gehe nicht zu Deinem Fürst, wenn Du nicht gerufen wirst. A well-known German figure of speech. Translation: Do not go to the nobility running your village-town-territory, if you have not been called to do so.
Secondly, escalating a conflict to the next level in Germany is a sign that you and your colleague were not able to resolve your problems among yourselves, at your working level. It’s a sign of failure.
Third, escalation can be seen by next level management’s peers as a sign that that manager does not have their team under control, that they are not managing the team well. In other words, escalation embarrasses the boss.
A Kollegenschwein is seen as a Petzer, as a tattle-tail, a rat. Petzen, to tattle, to snitch, to squeal. Oink, oink!
analysis, truth, causes
German literary themes often mirror the country’s approach to conflict resolution by emphasizing rational analysis, the search for truth, and a deep engagement with the causes and consequences of conflict. This is evident in several ways:
1. Analytical and Evidence-Based Narratives: German literature frequently adopts a methodical, almost investigative approach to conflict. Works often reconstruct the origins and dynamics of disputes, reflecting a cultural preference for understanding “why” something happened rather than simply assigning blame. This mirrors the German mediator’s focus on reconstructing causes and seeking objective evidence.
2. Focus on Structural Causes and Complexity. German literary works tend to explore not just individual conflicts, but also the broader structural, historical, and societal factors that give rise to them. For example, literature from the post-Cold War era and after World War II often grapples with the legacy of violence, the trauma of war, and the processes of reconciliation and rebuilding. This reflects a systemic approach to conflict resolution, where understanding the underlying structures is key to lasting peace.
3. Didactic and Reflective Elements. Many German literary texts serve a didactic purpose, encouraging readers to reflect critically on conflict, violence, and their own roles in society. This aligns with the German tradition of using literature as a tool for public conscience and collective learning, fostering dialogue and self-examination as part of the resolution process.
4. Emphasis on Dialogue and Multiple Perspectives. German literature often presents conflicts through multiple viewpoints, highlighting the importance of dialogue, empathy, and understanding different sides. This narrative strategy supports the idea that resolving conflict requires not just evidence, but also the integration of subjective experiences and perspectives.
5. Transformation and Peacebuilding. Themes of transformation—both personal and societal—are central in German literature. Works frequently depict the journey from conflict to reconciliation, emphasizing the possibility of change through understanding, evidence, and dialogue. This reflects the German peacebuilding approach, which seeks to address root causes and foster sustainable solutions.