AIDS crisis in the 80s – workshop discussion on the radio play “Adonis in New York”

Rosa von Praunheim in conversation with Johannes Nichelmann

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In 1987, the filmmaker Rosa von Praunheim told of the AIDS crisis in New York in a gripping radio play. (picture-alliance / Photopress Mueller / Ralf Mueller)

The first AIDS cases were identified almost 40 years ago. There was stigmatization against risk groups and major upheavals within the queer community. Filmmaker Rosa von Praunheim played an important role.

In 1987 Rosa von Praunheim produced a documentary audio piece with RIAS that tells of how the HI virus changed the lives of his friends, well-known artists and the entire LGBTIQ world. The title: Adonis in New York.

Rosa von Praunheim wants to know: What is changing and how can you protect yourself? No question is too explicit for him and he does not hide his own love life. The focus of the documentary radio play is a long telephone conversation with the filmmaker Arthur Bressan, who died shortly afterwards.

Censored kisses

In this workshop talk, the now 77-year-old filmmaker describes the mood from back then and reports on how he went about his work on the play. He will draw parallels with the current pandemic. There is also the question of why Bayerischer Rundfunk only wanted to broadcast its program in 1988 in a different form.

You can hear the original audio piece “Adonis in New York” in full length in the Dlf Audiothek or in our portal “hoerspielundfeature.de”.

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