Great Freedom 18

In post-war Germany, liberation by the Allies does not mean freedom for everyone. Hans (a remarkable performance from Undine’s Franz Rogowski) is imprisoned again and again under Paragraph 175, a law criminalising homosexuality. Over the course of decades, he develops an intense and primal bond with his cellmate Viktor, a convicted murderer.

Awarded the Jury Prize in the Un Certain Regard section of the 2021 Cannes Film Festival, Sebastian Meise’s poignant drama Great Freedom features an all-male cast and takes places almost entirely within the confines of a German prison. This arresting and uncompromising piece offers a potent reflection on historical injustice and the persecution of homosexuals, yet at its core is a gentle and unforgettable love story.