Schwarzer Kies (aka Black Gravel) (1961)

Tensions simmer in a small German village between the locals and the U.S. military base located right next to it. While its men struggle to survive in the black market, the town's women serve as "entertainment" for the GIs. The film focuses on a cold hearted black marketeer (Helmut Wildt) and his ex-girlfriend (Ingmar Zeisberg) who is now married to an American soldier (Hans Cossy). Directed by Helmut Kautner (PORT OF FREEDOM), the film begins with the cruel killing of a dog and ends with the pointless death of one of the main characters with no relief in between. This is one grim film. One can't really like any of the characters, they all want something and are only looking out for themselves. Still, the movie is a harsh look at post war Germany with zero sentimentality and although it's often hard to watch, it's honest and real and reality isn't always pretty. No one comes out looking good, not the Germans, not the Americans. The film even addresses the residual anti-Semitism some Germans felt. Curiously, that scene was cut from the film when a Jewish group protested. That scene has since been restored to the movie (I watched the uncut version). A fascinating and disturbing look that should be more widely seen. With Wolfgang Buttner, Anita Hofer, Peter Nestler and Edeltraud Elsner.