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Paragraph 175

Play trailer Poster for Paragraph 175 Released Sep 13, 2000 1h 16m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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95% Tomatometer 19 Reviews 84% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
Rupert Everett narrates this harrowing documentary about the persecution of homosexuals in the Third Reich, which adds a deeper dimension to Holocaust history. Using an obscure paragraph in Germany's penal code dating back to 1871, the Nazi government arrested gay men, sending them to jail or concentration camps, where they were tortured and murdered. Interviews with aging survivors detail the shift from the social freedoms of the Weimar Republic to the repressive terror imposed by the Nazis.
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Paragraph 175

Critics Reviews

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John Leonard New York Magazine/Vulture ... absorbing documentary... Feb 5, 2018 Full Review Eric Harrison Houston Chronicle One of the most moving interviews is with Pierre Seel. May 21, 2001 Full Review Mick LaSalle San Francisco Chronicle An exquisite and powerful documentary -- one whose elegance only heightens its devastating impact. Rated: 4/4 Jan 1, 2000 Full Review Alabama Forum Staff Alabama Forum Paragraph 175 combines recent interviews with six of the nine known survivors, some speaking publicly for the first time, and a wealth of archival and personal photographs and film footage taken before the war. May 4, 2023 Full Review Mattie Lucas From the Front Row A heartbreaking portrait of an oft-overlooked aspect of the Holocaust that feels eerily timely now. Jun 26, 2022 Full Review Glenn Dunks The Film Experience ...casts further tragic light on the experience of LGBTIQ people across history and does so with stark candor. Nov 2, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member Something's lacking. But very moving. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review Audience Member It's extremely disturbing that some of the same arguments used by the Nazis to justify such vile acts against humanity are now being used by the Christian Right to justify denying us our full civil rights. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/12/23 Full Review Audience Member An uncanny and strong expose, the figures of emotions spread across the fabric of the film is hair - raising. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/19/23 Full Review Audience Member Excellent for what it is ... Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/12/23 Full Review Audience Member First watched this in high school with my best friend. Was very affected by it but didn't fully appreciate it. Watched it again as a 26 year old and it was moving beyond belief. Reached into the depths of my soul to try to understand how human beings can do such things to other human beings. Sad that it was made so long after the Holocaust when most of the survivors had already died. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/03/23 Full Review Audience Member From what I could glean from my viewing, this documentary (already 9 years old!) was well-researched and constructed as well as moving. Unfortunately, there were no English subtitles for the interviewees who spoke German and French; however, I was delighted to have Rupert narrate intermittently. Look forward to a second sitting. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/07/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Cast & Crew

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Rob Epstein

Director

Jeffrey Friedman

Director

Rupert Everett

Narrator

Sharon Wood

Writer

Janet Cole

Producer

Michael Ehrenzweig

Producer

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Paragraph 175

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Movie Info

Synopsis Rupert Everett narrates this harrowing documentary about the persecution of homosexuals in the Third Reich, which adds a deeper dimension to Holocaust history. Using an obscure paragraph in Germany's penal code dating back to 1871, the Nazi government arrested gay men, sending them to jail or concentration camps, where they were tortured and murdered. Interviews with aging survivors detail the shift from the social freedoms of the Weimar Republic to the repressive terror imposed by the Nazis.
Director
Rob Epstein, Jeffrey Friedman
Producer
Janet Cole, Michael Ehrenzweig, Rob Epstein, Jeffrey Friedman
Screenwriter
Sharon Wood
Distributor
New Yorker Films, Films Transit International [ca/nl/us]
Production Co
HBO Theatrical Documentary, Channel Four Films, Cinemax, Telling Pictures, Zero Film GmbH, Zero Gravity Productions
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 13, 2000, Original
Release Date (DVD)
Jul 23, 2002
Box Office (Gross USA)
$96.2K
Runtime
1h 16m
Sound Mix
Dolby Stereo, Surround
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