Last to Know

(Jeder schweigt von etwas anderem)

Germany, 2006, 72 min, color
In German; English subtitles
Credits:
Director
Script
Editor
Camera
Music (Score)
Producer

Synopsis

The stories of four – out of approximately 250,000 – former political prisoners in East Germany. Back then, they couldn't keep silent; but now, 20 years after the fall of the Wall, it is still difficult to answer the questions of their children and friends, and come to terms with a very personal and painful past.

 

This moving documentary features four former political prisoners in East Germany – people who were imprisoned for reading banned books, writing poetry and leading alternative lifestyles. Exceptional bonus features, specially designed for educators, include a secret police training film and their files on one of the political prisoners (translated into English).

Press comments

“The documentary counterpart to The Lives of Others.”
Hamburger Morgenpost

 

“[This film offers] a contrasting discussion to comedies like Good Bye, Lenin! An important contribution to the cinematic debate about the GDR’s past.”
Der Tagesspiegel

 

“A compelling bridge to the present time.”
Berliner Zeitung

Availability

Buy the DVD
DVD Bonus Features:
  • Filmmaker Biographies & Filmographies
  • Interview with the Filmmakers
  • Stasi Observation Plan (translated into English, printable)
  • Operation: Auditor (1984, b/w, 9 min.), produced by the Stasi
  • Protagonist Biographies
  • Anne Gollin’s Original Stasi Files (translated into English)

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