Germany 2026
Opening July 16, 2026

Directed by: Eva Müller, Isabel Schneider
Writing credits: Documentary
Principal actors: Documentary 

Women’s rights have been a basic topic since ancient history beginning back in the times of Mesopotamia, Egypt, Rome and Greece. Now we are looking at the development of women’s rights as commentators on German television from the 1990s to the beginning of 2000. Originally men led the discussions on talk shows. Slowly women stepped up to this responsibility.

Our film Was haben wir gelacht, translates to something like, “It’s all very well for us to laugh.” Women slowly worked their way into German talk shows on television, first as co-moderators more in the background, to finally establishing their own shows with themselves as moderators. We hear from Hella von Sinnen, Bettina Böttinger, Gaby Köster, Maren Kroymann, and Esther Schweins, some of the first women who became active on screen. They began by referring to examples taken from their own mothers. First, they appear with Thomas Gottschalk who moderated Na sowas!, as well as Gottschalk Late Night, to become famous on his show Wetten, dass..? (Bet on it). How did he interview women? How did they appear on similar shows moderated by Rudi Carrell and Stefan Raab? Slowly they took over their own shows. “Appearance” also included thoughts about how to look, including fashion, make-up, and high-heel shoes. This film is scheduled to show in German cinemas in July. However, it will also definitely be a success on German television, available for us all to watch. (Becky T.)