Kulturamt Langen

The Steel Animal: Probably the most famous German railroad film was shot in 1934 by the visionary director and cameraman Willy Zielke, who was only 32 years old when he was commissioned by the Deutsche Reichsbahn. The occasion was the 100th anniversary of the six-kilometre-long first German railroad line, which was opened with 200 guests of honor. The 1938 film is considered a masterpiece and milestone of avant-garde documentary filmmaking. Joseph Goebbels, the Reich Minister for Popular Enlightenment and Propaganda, who viewed the film together with Leni Riefenstahl at a private screening in 1935, rejected the film on the grounds that it damaged Germany's reputation.

Illustrated with historical film clips and live videos, an explosive power struggle develops between two great manipulators and the unfortunately true story of their victim. The reputation-addicted film director Riefenstahl wants to advance her career. Willy Zielke plays along artfully - and is eliminated, Riefenstahl feels threatened, adorns herself with his laurels and removes his name from the credits without further ado. What's more, she also destroys him as a person by having him committed to a psychiatric institution in 1937. Diagnosed with schizophrenia, he was incapacitated and forcibly sterilized. When he was released in 1942, he was certified as never having been ill, having been considered incurable until then. In 1945, he managed to have his incapacitation annulled. But it was not until 1987 that he was compensated with 5,000 DM for his forced sterilization.

Play by Albert Ostermeier with Jacqueline Macaulay and Wolfram Koch. Directed by Frank Hoffmann

Photo credit: Bohumil Kostohryz / Cultural Office Langen

2.12., 8 p.m.

Neue Stadthalle Langen, Südliche Ringstr. 77, Langen

2for1: price category 2 = 35 €, price category 3 = 32 €

2.12., 19-19.30, box office