Marriage in the Shadows

Ehe im Schatten Marriage in the Shadows is an East German film melodrama. Directed by Kurt Maetzig, tt was released in 1947 by DEFA. The film was described as an attempt to confront the German people about the morals of the past, being the first film to confront the people about the persecution of the Jews and the atrocities conducted during World War II.

The film ends with a dedication to the reallife actor Joachim Gottschalk who committed suicide with his Jewish wife Meta Wolff and their nineyearold son Michael.The screenplay was based on the life and suicide of actor Joachim Gottschalk and his family in 1941. However, Kurt Maetzig said of the film, almost everything in the film is based on what I myself, or my family and friends, have experienced. Indeed the character of Kurt Bernstein, portrayed by Alfred Balthoff, is strongly based on Maetzig. Maetzigs mother had committed suicide to avoid being caught by the Gestapo. It is Kurt Maetzigs first feature film as director. ........

Source: Wikipedia