150 Years of Thomas Mann: The Manns – Part 2

1933 to 1941.

CINEMA | BIOPIC

The Manns - A Novel of the Century is a 2001 family saga directed by Heinrich Breloer and starring Armin Mueller-Stahl and Monica Bleibtreu.



The second part of the award-winning docu-drama "The Manns – A Novel of the Century" is dedicated to the life of the famous Mann family of writers from 1933 to 1941.



After fleeing from the National Socialists, Thomas and Katia Mann initially stayed in France and Switzerland. A central concern for Thomas is the disappearance of a suitcase with his diaries – a loss that could threaten not only his most intimate thoughts, but also his social reputation. Despite political pressure, Thomas Mann hesitated for a whole three years before publicly turning away from the Nazi regime, as he secretly hoped to return to Germany. This hesitation brings him into conflict with his children Klaus and Erika, who have long been actively positioning themselves against the Nazi regime: Erika with political texts and cabaret, Klaus with his novel "Mephisto", a literary reckoning with Gustaf Gründgens – once Erika's husband and Klaus' lover – who adapted to the Third Reich.

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In 1938, Thomas Mann finally emigrated to the USA with Katia and their youngest daughter Elisabeth. He took up a professorship at Princeton, where he led a comfortable life in exile marked by intellectual prestige.

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Heinrich Mann, on the other hand, lives with his wife Nelly under simpler conditions in France. For Nelly, exile is a psychological burden: the social exclusion caused by the Manns' upper-middle-class environment, coupled with a loss of home and a lack of prospects, lead to depression and alcohol addiction. Nevertheless, Heinrich and Nelly marry. When the German Wehrmacht occupied France, Heinrich managed to flee to the USA in 1940 together with Nelly, his nephew Golo Mann and Franz and Alma Werfel via Spain and Portugal.

Price: Reserved tickets must be picked up at least 15 minutes before the start of the event. In case of non-collection, the tickets will be charged.

Regular:
CHF 17.- Numbered seat
Reduced (members KP / Kulturgesellschaft Klosters / guest card):
CHF 15.- Numbered seat
Reduced (young audience up to 18 years / apprentices / students with ID / Kulturlegi):
CHF 10.- Seat numbered
Wheelchair user with accompaniment (regular):
CHF 15.- Numbered seat

Cast
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Docudrama, 2001, Germany, 105 minutes, FSK: 12, Director: Heinrich Breloer
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Photo credit: WDR2025