The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto

The postwar division of Germany into East and West after WWII came to affect every aspect of life in its territories, including the film industry. As the respective governments and societies of East and West Germany splintered and evolved along separate paths, so did the culture surrounding movies and the way they were advertised. Film production in West Germany experienced a rapid artistic renaissance influenced by the importation of films from the U.S. and Western Europe. In East Germany, however, the film industry came under the control of the Deutsche Film-Aktiengesellschaft (DEFA), the state-owned film studio that remained in control until 1992. These two contrasting histories are reflected in the graphic styles of movie posters created to advertise German films released throughout the Cold War era. This exhibition showcases 85 posters from East and West Germany produced from the late 1950s to 1990 when the country was reunified.

Postwar German Film Posters Exhibition • Until Jun 11 • Open: 9:30am–5pm (until 8pm Fri & Sat) • Closed: Mon • Admission: ¥430 • Access: Kyoto Stn, bus to Okazaki Koen/Bijutsukan, Heian Jingu-mae stop • Tel: 075-761-4111 • momak.go.jp