Paragraph 175 (2000)

Historian Klaus Müller interviews survivors of the Nazi persecution of homosexuals because of the German Penal Code of 1871, Paragraph 175.

Directors:

Rob Epstein, Jeffrey Friedman

Writer:

Sharon Wood

Stars:

Rupert Everett, Klaus Müller, Karl Gorath

9 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview:
Rupert Everett	...	Narrator (voice)
Klaus Müller	...	Himself - Historian
Karl Gorath	...	Himself
Pierre Seel	...	Himself
Heinz F.	...	Himself
Annette Eick	...	Herself
Albrecht Becker	...	Himself
Gad Beck	...	Himself
Heinz Dörmer	...	Himself

Storyline

By the 1920's, Berlin had become known as a homosexual eden, where gay men and lesbians lived relatively open lives amidst an exciting subculture of artists and intellectuals. With the coming to power of the Nazis, all this changed. Between 1933 and 1945 100,000 men were arrested for homosexuality under Paragraph 175, the sodomy provision of the German penal code dating back to 1871. Some were imprisoned, others were sent to concentration camps. Of the latter, only about 4,000 survived. Today, fewer than ten of these men are known to be living. Five of them have now come forward to tell their stories for the first time in this powerful new film. The Nazi persecution of homosexuals may be the last untold story of the Third Reich. Paragraph 175 fills a crucial gap in the historical record, and reveals the lasting consequences of this hidden chapter of 20th century history, as told through personal stories of men and women who lived through it: the half Jewish gay resistance fighter who ...

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Plot Keywords:

homosexual | nazi | jewish | lesbian | memory | 

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Genres:

Documentary | History | War

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Details

Official Sites:

Telling Pictures

Country:

UK Germany USA

Language:

French English German

Release Date:

7 February 2002 (Germany)

Also Known As:

175. paragrafus

Filming Locations:

England, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$25,007 (USA) (15 September 2000)

Gross:

$65,719 (USA) (22 September 2000)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Channel Four Films, Cinemax, HBO Theatrical Documentary

Technical Specs

Runtime:

81 min 75 min (TV)

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Black and White Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

"An unnatural sex act committed between persons of the male sex or by humans with animals is punishable by imprisonment; the loss of civil rights may also be imposed." (Paragraph 175, German Penal Code, 1871)

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Connections

Featured in 50 Documentaries to See Before You Die: The Boy Who Loves Jesus Grows Up (2011)

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Soundtracks

"La Revue de Cuisine"
Charleston and tango
Written by Bohuslav Martinu
Performed by Chicago Pro Musica
Courtesy of Alfonse Leduc & C.e Editeurs Paris/France and Reference Recordings

User Reviews

It wasn't only Jews!

I would imagine that 99% of those questioned would think that only Jews were killed in the Nazi death camps. In fact, gypsies, homosexuals, politicals, and Jehovah's Witnesses were also given special stars and faced extermination.

There are only about 10 homosexuals left from this tragedy, and they interviewed eight for this special film. It was incredible and moving and, if you are not touched by their stories, then you are cast in stone.

The film did mentioned that this punishment was reserved primarily for men, but they did not explain why. I wouldn't take anything away for that, but it should have been discussed as they had many lesbians in the movie. Did they just want to show nude women? Gratuitous monties? I remember my visit to Dachau and the memories I have of this shame on humanity. This film will have to hold me until I can get to the Holocaust Museum in Washington to see more. It is not to be missed and everyone should be checking HBO to see when it plays next.