23.06.2021 – 16:54
WDR West German Broadcasting
Cologne (ots)
It has been 50 years since Rosa von Praunheim’s film “It is not the homosexual that is perverse, but the situation in which he lives” appeared. The film commissioned by WDR was accompanied by scandals at the time and is now considered to be the trigger for the German gay movement. The WDR takes the anniversary as an opportunity for the program focus “Queer – then and now” on July 4th and 5th, 2021 on WDR television and in the ARD media library. In addition to the von Praunheim film and an audience discussion about it from 1973, three other films will be shown: “Jonathan”, “The Siblings” and “The Middle of the World”. In addition, on her 65th birthday (July 4th), Bettina Böttinger invites queer people to talk about the question “What has happened in our community in the last 50 years, where are we today?” All films and talks will be available online first from July 3rd in the WDR channel of the ARD media library. There, under the queer focus, you can also find the film “Our Child”, which was shown on WDR television on May 18th on the occasion of the Diversity Day.
The individual program items
“Queer in 2021” – Talk with Bettina Böttinger (July 4th, 10.30pm to 11.30pm and online first in the ARD media library)
Journalist and moderator Bettina Böttinger meets with queer people on her 65th birthday and asks: What has happened in our community in the last 50 years, where are we today? What has become a matter of course and what still needs to change? How tolerantly does our society approach queer lifestyles? And what about a few kilometers further, for example in Poland or Hungary? Bettina Böttinger’s guests, who are committed to the dialogue between people and cultures, include student Hana Corrales, actor and presenter Jochen Schropp and reality TV actor Nicolas Puschmann. In addition to socio-political exchange, there is also time for emotional, entertaining and “queer” stories from the lives of Böttinger’s guests. The broadcast was pre-recorded.
It is not the homosexual who is perverse, but the situation in which he lives (Feature film, FRG 1971, 4 July, 11.30 p.m. to 0.35 a.m. and online first in the ARD media library)
Daniel, a young man who had some fleeting experiences with men, met Clemens after moving to the big city. Both long for a deep, lasting relationship and live together intensely for a while. But soon their relationship turns out to be a sentimental parody of a marriage. Daniel meets an older man whom he is very fascinated by. Until the cold manner of this man and his friends, who only see him as a sexual object, repel him. He seeks out well-known meeting places, loses his inhibitions and enjoys changing partners quickly. Daniel becomes more and more dependent on his instinctuality. From a hectic, neurotic environment, he finds a group of young men who want to develop a new awareness through discussion and organized coexistence.
Audience discussion on “It is not the homosexual that is perverse, but the situation in which he lives” (night from 4th to 5th July, 0.35 to 2.10 am and online first in the ARD media library) from 1973
Guests: the authors of the film Rosa von Praunheim and Martin Dannecker, moderator: Reinhard Münchenhagen
Die Mitte der Welt (feature film, Germany 2016, night from 4th to 5th July, 2.10 to 4 a.m. and online first in the ARD media library)
Phil (17) is looking. As little as he knows about his past and, above all, his father, his present is chaotic: With his mother, who has a new lover again, but who doesn’t seem to give up as quickly as his predecessors. With his twin sister Dianne, who is withdrawing more and more into her own world. It’s good that at least his best friend Kat can be relied on. Then it happens: A new student enters the class after the summer vacation and Phil falls madly in love. Nicholas seems to reciprocate his feelings, but he also poses many puzzles to Phil. The mess is perfect. Phil’s search for his center of the world is becoming more and more urgent. “The Middle of the World” is the film adaptation of the youth novel of the same name by Andreas Steinhöfl from 1998.
Jonathan (feature film, Germany 2016, night from 3rd to 4th July, 0.40 to 2.10 a.m. and online first in the ARD media library)
Jonathan is 23 and lives on his family’s farm. His father Burghardt has cancer and knows he will die. Jonathan takes care of Burghardt selflessly, but he senses that something stands between them. As Burghardt’s condition is deteriorating, Jonathan’s aunt Martha takes on Anka. Jonathan is fascinated by the ease with which she meets the essential questions of life and falls in love with her. When Burghardt’s childhood friend Ron, who was believed to be lost, appears, Burghardt really blossoms. For Jonathan, however, Ron is an intruder. When it comes to light that his father is gay, a world collapses for Jonathan. The film deals with internal conflicts and problems with the acceptance of homosexuality in the family environment.
Die Geschwister (feature film, Germany 2016, night from 3rd to 4th July, 2.10 to 3.35 a.m. and online first in the ARD media library)
Thies works for a property management company in Berlin. He secretly found a free apartment for a Polish siblings. But generosity is not his only motive. Thies starts an affair with his brother – and dives step by step deeper into the secret of the “siblings” … Three young people looking for a possible home – in a Berlin of great freedom and housing shortage, between solidarity and mutual trade .
Diversity-Engagement des WDR
On July 4th and 5th, the program will focus on homosexuality around the film by Rosa von Praunheim, which shaped the gay movement. The WDR recently picked up other queer dimensions in the media library and on television, e.g. on the Diversity Day on May 18. as well as in Pride Month June. The current programs of the WDR on radio, online and television also deal with queer topics again and again.
The WDR has a long tradition of diversity. For example, it was the first broadcaster within ARD to create a permanent position for an integration officer. In 2007, WDR was the first broadcaster to sign the Diversity Charter for anchoring diversity in business and society. There has been a diversity advisory board at WDR since 2014, under the direction of Deputy Director Eva-Maria Michel. The guiding principle and at the same time the aim of the work at WDR: to depict the diversity of society, its different living environments and perspectives, in the programs and in the workforce – of course and without any obligation to explain.
Extensive information about the current diversity commitment of the WDR is available here: www.diversity.wdr.de
Photos can be found at www.ard-foto.de
You can also visit the WDR press lounge: presse.wdr.de
Press contact:
WDR Communication
Phone: 0221 220 7100
Email: [email protected]
Original content by: WDR Westdeutscher Rundfunk, transmitted by news aktuell
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