A film about finding love and humanity in a world turned upside down.
The Germans
Upstairs
Synopsis
Inspired by true events, The Germans Upstarss is a film about a forbidden love during the Occupation of Paris in WWII when two German officers are billeted at the home of a wealthy Jewish woman and her daughter on the outskirts of Paris. One of the officers and the woman of the house are drawn to each other. The woman's rebellious teenage daughter feels threatened and outraged at the developing relationship between her mother and the officer, which creates enormous family tension. The ill-fated love story weaves its way through the war, challenging the boundaries set by politics and war, showing that in the end feelings are stronger than any attempt to control them.
Occupied Paris During WWII
1940-41 The German Riviera?
During the first months of the Occupation of Paris, the occupiers were under strict orders to behave in a polite and respectful manner with the French. Although the underlying feeling among the French was of course sadness and resentfulness at being taken over, the Germans pushed the idea of how complementary their two cultures were. The Germans made it a point to admire the French—their culture, the exquisite Paris monuments, sidewalk cafes, oh-so-beautiful and well-dressed women. The idea was to win over Paris by flattery, not repression. This almost worked—for awhile. . Under the pro-German Vichy government, many shops and cafes prospered by catering to the German Soldiers and their friends.
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1941-44 The Hammer Comes Down
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Cast and Team Members
By late 1940-things were not so 'gay' in Paris. Especially for the Jews. A Jewish census registered 150,000 Jews. Many who had previously left Paris had returned after the June armistice with Germany. Soon the roundups began. In 1941 the first big one was the Green Ticket roundup, carried out by French police. The most hideous occurred in July 1942--Vel d"Hiv, where 13,152 people were held for as long as five days with a shortage of water, food, and sanitation before being herded into trains bound for concentration camps.
Cast and Team Members
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THE PLAY
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"Madame Politzer, I am Hauptmann Viktor Schuler. I trust you were informed that I would arrive today."
"I keep telling you it's not for us to understand.
They tell us where to go, we go. They tell us what to do, we do it."
"Lots of good things we can get our hands on here if we play our cards right. Cigarettes are better than marks in some places."
"The Tiergarten! I went horseback riding there almost everyday!
"And to the end of the war."
"When this war is finished, and you and your fat Nazi friend are finally out of here, I’ll still hate you."
"How could you let yourself fall for her?
Don't you know all she was doing was trying to save her skin?"
"You need to leave Paris, Anna.
Now, while there's still time."
"Meet me at the Gare St. Lazare on Tuesday. I'll take care of everything."
I can't believe you're here.
I didn't know if. . .
"I had to see you."
"Stay alive, Viktor. That is the most important thing."
Avenir Light is a clean and stylish font favored by designers. It's easy on the eyes and a great go-to font for titles, paragraphs & more.
"If by some stroke of luck you're reading this, you'll know how much I hold you in my heart."
"I didn't even get to say goodbye."
" It's you that got us through it. And now it's time to go on living."
"I had to see you."
"How long will you blame us? Forever?"
Reviews, and Interviews
By Harry Duke
...a solid evening
of original theater.
“This was honestly one of the best plays I ever saw in my whole life.”
- Gig Hitao, videographer
Interview with Playwright Francine Schwartz and Director Steven David Martin
"...Kudos to the Raven Players for mounting an original work, and kudos to the community members willing to take a chance on an unknown play."
The real life inspiration for characters in Francine Schwartz’s new play, ‘The Germans Upstairs,’include her mother and grandmother, center and right.
“It was so moving to watch audiences respond to this portrayal of people behaving much like normal humans in any situation—while the world around them was so abnormally cruel.” Kathy Johnson, theater-goer
Support the Film
Be Part of the Journey
The Germans Upstairs is a timeless story that explores love and human connection, navigating against the odds while weighing issues of duty and conscience. No easy answers, but a lot to think about. Help us make this important film. Be part of the journey from script to film.
Basic Levels$10-$50 – Supporter LevelSpecial thank-you on social mediaDigital access to behind-the-scenes updatesMid-Level
Contributions$100-$500 – Contributor LevelName in creditsExclusive digital content (early trailer, interviews)Access to private online screening$1,000-$5,000 –
Producer’s CircleExecutive Producer or Associate Producer creditInvitation to set visit or wrap partySigned memorabilia (script, poster)
Major Investors$10,000+ – Executive InvestorProfit-sharing agreement or investment contractVIP premiere accessFeatured in marketing materials
A timeless narrative about finding common ground and humanity in the most dire circumstances, The Germans Uostairs film delves deep into moral questions and features strong character development against the backdrop of Occupied Framce during World War II for an immersive and thought-provoking experience that will stay with you long after seeing the film.
We are seeking additional financial support for the production of this film. Individuals and organizations who support independendent films and what to help make us reach our goals for this fiiolm can an support us us by donating on one of our fundraising campaigns on Go Fund me, Kick Starter etc,or directly via the is site, or Volunteering to help us at an upcoming fundraising events,
We will also have a list of gifts for supporters ast various levels of suppot including
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Movie t-shirts
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A case of wine
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Acknowledgement in end credits
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Background role in the film (non-speaking)
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Invitation on set during filming
Alt text
Join Us in Bringing This Story to Life
Love takes many forms—romantic, familial, friendship, patriotism, and beyond. Our independent film, The Germans Upstairs, explores these deep connections, and we’re inviting passionate supporters to help make it a reality.
By investing, you become part of a powerful artistic journey with the potential for creative and financial success. Let’s bring this artistic vision to the screen together.
When you invest, we’ll thank you with these gifts:
$25 or more -Movie t-shirt
$250 or more - Case of wine
$500 or more - Acknowledgement in end credits
$750 or more - Background role in the film (non-speaking)
$ Invitation on set during filming
$ Invitation to film premiere
Donation form
Behind the Scenes
Production Notes, Locations, ProcessNotes.Somr of this will also appear on the blog.
Digging Deeper
These pages provide information and historical context about events portrayed re alluded to the film and other web pages. . in longer narratives, photo, and links to source material for people who might want to dig deeper into story
1940-41
How France was Lulled During the Occupation
As portrayed in. this excerpt from the British newspaper The Observer of 7 September, 1941:The German campaign is was carried out for the most part through the medium of the new Paris daily, Pariser Zeitung, which first appeared on 15 January last. It is written in German and contains eight to 12 pages, with an occasional single-sheetsupplement in French summarising the news contained in the German part.
This paper is the only source of information for the French people and the German army of occupation in northern France. The policy of the paper, of course, was anti-British,anti-communist, and anti-Semitic, and there was a daily anti-British cartoon.
But the most interesting thing about it is the immense care that is taken to please the French people and to show that German and French culture are not only essentially harmonious, but are complementary to each other. “Collaboration” is the dailytheme, profuse flattery being addressed to the French businesses represented at theLeipzig fair, to the France Européenne exhibition, to the French banking system, tothe particular French political and economic gifts that could play their part in thenew Europe. There are glowing articles about Paris, its monuments, places of historicinterest, its cafes, gaiety, charm, its bread, its women.
“The beauty of Paris is that she is really like an impressionist painting,” ran one typical sentence in a recent article.Nightclubs are praised and advertised. The suggestion is implied that Paris, with itshistorical, cultural and entertainment value, is to become the chief centre of recreationand relaxation for the German overlords of the future, and that France will thereby becontributing a valuable part in the future working of the New Order in Europe. The emphasis that is laid on the life of Paris during the period of military occupation is. designed to show that French cultural life is flourishing as impressively as before the occupation.
The surprising feature of this German campaign is the persistent emphasis placed upon the future role of German-Franceas the holiday resort for the Nazi Herrenvolk, and the new attempt to win Paris by flattery instead of by repression.
Eventually Paris did resist, but the efforts were limited—the most to be said is that the Resistance did keep the Reich and their Vichy allies on the alert and did send a message to thew orld that Paris was not being benignly held prisoner.
The tales of FrenchResistance served to postpone for a quarter of a century a deeper analysisof how easily France had been beaten and how feckless had been the nation’s reaction to German authority.T
...The Pariser Zeitung from December 1942
sources
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...The most interesting thing about it is the immense care that is taken to please the French people and to show that German and French culture are not only essentially harmonious, but are complementary to each other.
1942-44
The Hammer Comes Down
By September 1940, food shortages as well as fuel had become a harsh reality. Ration cards were issued and waiting in line for hours often resulted in ‘nothing left.’ The black market had already begun by late 1940. Prices became more and more exorbitant. And engaging in the market was often risky--potential arrest, prosecution, and penalties from both German authorities and the Vichy government.
So by late 1940, things were looking bleak for everyone in Paris, but especially the Jews. “Whispers” of what was happening elsewhere consumed the Jewish population, and fear was mounting. And then in late September Paris Jews were hit with a German census which registered 150,000 Jews, including 64,000 foreigners. Many Jews had left Paris after the German invasion in May 1940, but had returned after the armistice was signed in June. Many of those Parisians ended up regretting that choice.
The first big roundup of Jews in Paris was the Green Ticket Roundup-- carried out by the French police, in collaboration with Nazi Germany in 1941. The focus was foreign and stateless Jews. By July 1942 the hammer came down even harder. The Vel d’Hiv [a velodrome] roundup was massive and hideous. 13,152 people, including 4,115 children were held in hideous conditions for days, enduring lack of sanitation, food or water before being pushed and shoved into trains headed for concentration camps.
By 1942, the persecution of Jews in Paris had intensified. Businesses were seized and handed over to non-Jews, Jews were forced to wear the Star of David patches on their clothing so they could be easily identified. They were barred from many public places, which posted signs that read “Forbidden to Jews.” 1942 marked the beginning of systematic deportations of Jews from Paris to transit camps –a convenient way station enroute to Auschwitz.
sources
More Links
A deeper look at some of the elements from the film - the era, daily life in Paris, the historical backdrop.
The Civilian Experience in German Occupied France, 1940-1944
A close look at how the Occupation affected the everyday life of the French--from food and fuel shortages to German/French collaboration.
https://digitalcommons.conncoll.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1005&context=histhp
Holocaust Timeline
A chronological look at what led to the murder of more than 6 million Jews during the Holocaust
https://www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/holocaust/timeline.html
When Paris Went Dark
by Ronald C Rosbottom
In depth look at life in Paris under occupation, and the brave people who fought against the darkness. A wealth of material collected from diaries, letters, personal histories, flyers and posters, film, and more.
https://www.amazon.com/When-Paris-Went-Dark-Occupation/dp/0316217433/ref=asc_df_0316217433?mcid=b330ba8dd38337cfbaa2de1e41c1f42f&hvocijid=9839374111282125506-0316217433-&hvexpln=73&tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=721245378154&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=9839374111282125506&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9193631&hvtargid=pla-2281435176858&psc=1
Life in Paris Under German Occupation
Factual and vivid, with amazing and candid photos--from German soldiers meandering the streets and cafes of Paris to Jews lining up on a sidewalk in front of a German soldier who sits at a table registering them as Jews.
How France Uncovered the Mystery Of the Forbidden Photos of Nazi-Occupied Paris
The discovery of an old photo album at a flea market in the south of France leads to a four-year search for the 'mystery photographer of Paris'. During the German Occupation of France, the Nazis strictly prohibited outdoor photography; taking pictures without an official permit was punishable by imprisonment or death. But someone had taken more than 350 black and white photos of civilians and Nazi soldiers going about their business in Paris. Not only were the date, time, and exact location noted on the photos, but also snarky often snarky captions about the German soldiers.
https://www.wunc.org/2024-10-29/how-france-uncovered-the-mystery-of-the-forbidden-photos-of-nazi-occupied-paris
Order to wear the Jewish Star, The Netherlands 29 April 1942
One of the most important and infamous of measures to segregate the Jews from the rest of the population and ultimately to wipe them off the face of the earth was the “Jewish Star” (Judenstern)
https://wwv.yadvashem.org/odot_pdf/Microsoft%20Word%20-%202430.pdf
Child Memories from the Occupation and Liberation of Paris (The National World War II Museum, New Orleans)
Interestingly enough, one of the memories is from a girl called Josette.
https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/child-memories-occupation-and-liberation-paris
The Deportation of Jews from France
Thousands of Frenchmen tried to help the Jews hidden from the deportations. Many of them paid for this with their lives. Since 1962 a total of 3,925 French men and women have been recognized by Yad Vashem as Righteous Among The Nations
https://www.yadvashem.org/holocaust/france/deportation-from-france.html
British Attack on the French Fleet in North Africa
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill's radio broadcast about the British attack
The horrific loss of innocent lives. A difficult decision was made to save countless thousands of more lives. . .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dPljBu5gMY
Churchill's Deadly Decision
After only 54 days in office, Churchill ordered his Navy to take control of French ships, or destroy them if the French refused to relinquish control.
https://www.pbs.org/wnet/secrets/churchills-deadly-decision/202/
Force H to Mers-el-Kebir
After the 1940 fall of France, Britain’s erstwhile ally was now under Axis control. The mighty French fleet suddenly had to be neutralized—by any means possible.
https://www.usni.org/magazines/naval-history-magazine/2022/august/force-h-mers-el-kebir
Music
German version of Falling In Love Again from the movie The Blue Angel
Germany's fist full-length talkie, The Blue Angel was directed by Josef von Sternberg and released in 1930. The character Lola Lola was Dietrich's "breakthrough" role.
The most popular song of World War II - Lili Marlene
Not referenced in the movie, but interesting all the same. The song crossed enemy lines, particularly in Europe and the US.
First recording of Lili Marlene - It Wasn't Marlene Dietrich
Some popular French movie stars mentioned in The Germans Upstairs
Josette Day
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0196816/bio/
Danielle Darriieux
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0W7wDpbCFM
Michelle Morgan
French Films Mentioned in Our Movie
Belle et La Bete (Beauty and the Beast film trailer)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsXkv1mpRUk
Roger Ebert's review of the original Beauty And The Beast
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-beauty-and-the-beast-1946
Port of Shadows with Michelle Morgan
(Le Quai des Brumes)
https://letterboxd.com/film/port-of-shadows/trailer/
Beating Heart (Battement du Coeus) with Danielle Darrieux
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZVWhlS6rdU
The Prosecution of a 94-year-old former SS guard renews questions about how to assign blame for the Holocaust
". . . the Holocaust was the product not of a conspiracy of extraordinarily cruel individuals, but rather the ordinary actions of ordinary people. They remind us that this genocide would never have taken place without these lowly foot soldiers. Things can go wrong in a hurry in countries, and when they do, it is shocking how willing people are to go along with it."
'Three Minutes: A Lengthening' Review: Ghost Story
A haunting meditation on the memory of the Holocaust - A three-minute amateur movie shot in 1938
Two Moments of Remorse for Nazi Crimes
Reading this article, I thought of the Wehrmacht soldier I had interviewed as part of my research for The Germans Upstairs. He was 95 years old at the time. Before I asked him anything, he asked me, "How long will you blame us--forever?"
The Tip-off From A Nazi That Saved My Parents
Good and evil. Both sides of the world. Exactly what Viktor talks about with Anna.
A high-ranking German official warns a tailor that a roundup is coming and that he and his family need to get out fast. The leak saves a Danish family. But what is most astonishing is that "the official was none other than Dr Karl Rudolph Werner Best - the very man who, as Germany's plenipotentiary in Denmark (and, moreover, deputy head of the SS) was in charge of ensuring that Denmark's Jews were sent to their death."
An Ugly Carnival
Revenge on women represented a form of expiation for the frustrations and sense of impotence among males humiliated by their country's occupation. One could almost say that it was the equivalent of rape by the victor." - Antony Beevor, D-Day-The Battle for Normandy
Blog
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