Direction: Sebastian Meise
Country: Austria
This deeply humane gay prison drama outlined with a few good twists and a clear message is based on a true story of love and sacrifice that spanned more than 25 years. In his path of desolation, Hans Hoffman (Franz Rogowski), a fearless man repeatedly imprisoned in the post-war Germany because of his homosexuality, shows impressive resilience in the face of the monstrosity of a prejudice that first hurts, then slowly kills. The infamous Paragraph 175 of the German Criminal Code, which made homosexual relationships between males a crime, only ended in 1994.
11 years after his fictional debut feature (a shocking family drama called Still Life), Austrian filmmaker Sebastian Meise returns with confidence, demonstrating a sincere attention toward the characters in addition to conferring them a real human depth. He paints a picture of daily prison life with a different angle in mind. Thus, don’t expect that typical climate of terror that usually invades these detention institutions.
Moved by genuine love and monumental compassion, Great Freedom becomes an accomplished picture as a result, succeeding beyond all possible sentimental trappings that are common to the genre. It manages to remain tense and focused, even in the hollows of its efficiently structured story. We have seen hundreds of prison tales with both virile and romantic bonds at the center, but none like this one. It’s a beautiful, sensitive and touching picture that more than deserves its place in the queer cinema history.
