Paragraph 175
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Robert Epstein
Rupert Everett
Janet Cole
Marlene Dietrich
Michael Ehrenzweig
Robert Epstein
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
Between 1933 and 1945, according to Nazi documents, approximately 100,000 men were arrested for homosexuality. Roughly half were sentenced to prison and approximately 10,000 to 15,000 were incarcerated in concentration camps. The death rate of homosexual prisoners in the camps is estimated to be as high as sixty percent (amongst the highest of non-Jewish prisoners), so that by 1945 only about 4,000 survived. This film is an investigation into the fate of homosexual men who experienced persecution under the Nazis. These are complex individuals- often bitter, but just as often filled with irony and humor; haunted by their memories, but determined to survive. Their collective story fills a crucial gap in the historical record and is a testament to human resilience in the face of unconscionable cruelty.
Crew
Janet Cole
Marlene Dietrich
Michael Ehrenzweig
Robert Epstein
Jeffrey Friedman
Dawn Logsdon
Bernd Meiners
Klaus Muller
Klaus Muller
Al Nelson
Zvi Howard Rosenman
Tibor Szemzo
Sharon Wood
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Miscellaneous Notes
Winner of Best Film in the Panorama at the 2000 Berlin International Film Festival.
Winner of the Competition and Audience Awards for Best Documentary at the 2000 Turin International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival.
Winner of the Directing Award in the documentary category at the 2000 Sundance Film Festival.
Released in United States Fall September 13, 2000
Released in United States September 15, 2000
Released in United States February 23, 2001
Released in United States on Video April 16, 2002
Released in United States January 2000
Released in United States February 2000
Released in United States April 2000
Released in United States June 2000
Released in United States July 2000
Shown at Berlin International Film Festival (Panorama/ European Film Market) February 9-20, 2000
Shown at Turin International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival (in competition) April 13-19, 2000.
Shown at San Francisco International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival June 15-25, 2000.
Shown at OUTFEST 2000: The Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Film Festival July 6-17, 2000.
Broadcast in USA over HBO Spring 2001.
Paragraph 175, from the German Penal Code of 1871, reads: "An unnatural sex act committed between persons of male sex or by humans with animals is punishable by imprisonment; the loss of civil rights may also be imposed." This law remained on the books in Germany until 1969.
Released in United States Fall September 13, 2000
Released in United States September 15, 2000 (San Francisco)
Released in United States February 23, 2001 (Nuart; Los Angeles)
Released in United States on Video April 16, 2002
Released in United States January 2000 (Shown at Sundance Film Festival (Documentary Competition) January 20-30, 2000.)
Released in United States February 2000 (Shown at Berlin International Film Festival (Panorama/ European Film Market) February 9-20, 2000)
Released in United States April 2000 (Shown at Turin International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival (in competition) April 13-19, 2000.)
Released in United States June 2000 (Shown at San Francisco International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival June 15-25, 2000.)
Released in United States July 2000 (Shown at OUTFEST 2000: The Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Film Festival July 6-17, 2000.)
Co-winner, along with Debra Chasnoff's "That's a Family," of the Audience Award for Best Documentary at the 2000 San Francisco International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival.
