October 9, starting at 8:15 p.m. and through January 6, 2027, on arte.tv

Gerta and the World on the Brink (Gerta Schnirch)

Drama, Germany/France/Czech Republic 2026
Brno, 1944: Gerta grows up as the daughter of a Czech mother and a German father. While her father succumbs to Nazi ideology, she joins the student resistance. After the war ends, she nevertheless becomes a target of hatred and retaliation. 

Through October 15 on arte.tv
Berlin Alexanderplatz
Literary Adaptation, Germany 2020
The latest adaptation of Alfred Döblin’s classic tells the story of Francis, a young refugee who comes to Berlin to start a new life with dignity. But life as a stateless person does not make things easy for him. When he meets the shady Reinhold, he goes off the rails. 

Available on arte.tv
through October 25 *The Rider
on the White Horse* Literary adaptation, Germany 2026
Hauke Haien is the director of coastal protection in North Frisia and warns of the consequences of climate change. But the people turn against him, and disaster strikes. A modern adaptation of the novel by Theodor Storm. 

Through November 27 on arte.tv

“The Second Sex” – In the Footsteps of Simone de Beauvoir

Documentary, France 2024

During a trip to the U.S. following in the footsteps of Simone de Beauvoir (1908–1986), later feminists such as Judith Butler and Françoise Vergès take a fresh look at the 1949 essay “The Second Sex.” 

Through February 23, 2027, on arte.tv
Queens of Crime – Charlotte Link, Master of Thrills
Portrait, Germany/France 2026
Charlotte Link has been one of Germany’s most successful authors for years. Her female detectives and heroes are grounded in everyday life and serve as role models for many readers. But how does she manage to captivate an audience of millions with her psychological thrillers? And where does she get the ideas for her plots and characters? The start of a new ARTE series. 

Available through March 20, 2027, on arte.tv

Ingeborg Bachmann: 100 Years of Ingeborg Bachmann

Portrait, F/A 2026

On June 25, 2026, the world will celebrate the 100th birthday of Ingeborg Bachmann. This documentary explores how Bachmann became one of the most significant German-language poets, whose inspiring power is worth rediscovering. Among those featured are Nobel Prize in Literature laureate Peter Handke, literary scholar Francosie Rétif, and Bachmann’s brother Heinz. 

Available through April 6, 2027, on arte.tv
Queens of Crime – The Wonderful World of Fred Vargas
: A Portrait, Germany 2026
Ancient legends, mysterious murders, and a unique sense of humor: Fred Vargas has been captivating millions of readers for decades and is considered the queen of European crime fiction. 

Additional documentaries on literature and individual authors can be found at arte.tv/de/videos/RC-019964/fokus-literatur.