Why is Mrs B. happy? / Warum ist Frau B. glücklich?

A film representing the movement in German cinema known as "proletarian cinema," which aimed to depict life through the eyes of the exploited classes. Directed by Erika Runge, the story spans 40 years (1928–1968) in the Ruhr region, told from the perspective of ordinary people—miners, workers, and union members. The central character is 59-year-old Maria B., a miner’s wife and mother of four from Duisburg. The film portrays scenes of Weimar Germany, the devastating global crisis of the early 1930s, attempts to build a family life under the Nazi regime, the tragedy of World War II, and the struggles of rebuilding life in postwar West Germany. Of particular interest are the moments of workers' solidarity during the Third Reich era.