Herbert Köfer

An East German TV-Film adaptation of Hans Fallada's classic novel, which depicts the day-to-day hardships of the white-collar worker at the end of the Weimar Republic. Pinneberg is fired while his wife Lämmchen is two months pregannt. In the months that follow he must attempt to earn for his family, while those around him - his family, his employer(s), the trade unions, the labour market - are only looking out for themselves.

High-school senior Peter considers the adults around him to be hypocritical, self-congratulatory and immersed in the past. He gets suspended for writing an essay that his teachers consider to be a challenge to the state. Just Don't Think I'll Cry became one of twelve films and film projects-almost an entire year's production-that were banned in 1965-1966 due to their alleged anti-socialist aspects. (DEFA Film Library)