They wanted to know what was going on in their country…
They wanted to choose their own books…
They wanted to change something…

… and the Ministry of State Security was right beside them from the start. At first, it infiltrated the group via hidden bugs, later “unofficial employees” were secretly smuggled in. In 1979, a portion of their members were arrested and sentenced up to five years in prison for subversive propaganda. The rest were repeatedly interrogated and closely watched. In this film, they talk about their ideas, their disillusionment and their experiences in prison. And they give an answer to the question: Would they do it again?

 

Info

Documentary
Directors: Christopher and Marc Bauder, Dörte Franke
Germany, 2000

Length: 90/45 min.
Format: DV

Directors: Christopher and Marc Bauder, Dörte Franke
Directors of Photography: Christopher and Marc Bauder
Film Editors: Christopher Bauder, Dörte Franke
Producer: Marc Bauder
WDR Editor: Werner Dütsch

World premiere DOK Leipzig, 2000 

A bauderfilm and WDR co-production, 2000

 

Festivals

DOK Leipzig (2000)
Dokfilmwerkstatt Poel (2000)

Press

“Engaging unknowns – a cleverly assembled film.”
taz, die tageszeitung

“That special kind of documentary – when the state is afraid of the people.”
DIE WELT