Amarcord 1976 East German A1 Style B Film Poster, Erhard Gruttner

This striking 1976 East German Style B film poster for Amarcord, designed by celebrated DEFA-era illustrator Erhard Grüttner, is a superb example of the imaginative, symbol-laden visual language that defined East German poster design. Rendered in intense monochrome red with surreal, dreamlike imagery, Grüttner’s bold interpretation perfectly echoes the spirit of Federico Fellini’s semi-autobiographical masterpiece—a film steeped in memory, fantasy, sensuality and satire. His provocative composition, blending the humorous with the unsettling, captures Fellini’s uniquely playful yet introspective tone.

Erhard Grüttner (b. 1938) is widely regarded as one of East Germany’s most inventive graphic artists. Working within the constraints of a state-controlled film distribution system, he developed a highly expressive, metaphorical style—often leaning towards surrealism, exaggerated form, and psychological nuance. Like many poster artists in the GDR, Grüttner was encouraged to prioritise artistic interpretation over literal marketing, resulting in poster art that is today considered among the most imaginative and collectible of the 20th century.

East German film posters are prized for this very reason: free from commercial pressures, artists were able to create visually daring works that distilled a film’s mood, philosophy, or symbolism into striking conceptual images. This poster is an exemplary case—provocative, playful, and unmistakably artistic.

Fellini’s Amarcord (1973) remains one of his most beloved films, chronicling life in a small Italian coastal town through a tapestry of memory, adolescence, politics and absurdity. Winner of the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, it remains a benchmark of poetic cinema and a defining work in Fellini’s late career.

This rare original East German poster is an exceptional find for collectors of world cinema, surrealist graphic design, and Cold War–era visual culture. A standout piece that marries European arthouse cinema with the unmistakable stylistic daring of GDR poster art.

This vintage movie poster is sized 20 1/4 x 28 5/8 inches and will be sent rolled (unframed).

• Year: 1976 - first-year-of-release in East Germany
  
• Poster Type: East German
  
• Style: -
• Art By: Erhard Gruttner
  
• Rolled/Folded/Other: Folded/Rolled
• Condition: Near Mint
  
• Condition Details: Originally folded but stored flat and folds barely noticeable. Very light wear on folds. Wonderful condition.