Paragraph 175

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Paragraph 175

2000

1h 16m

Documentary

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

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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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

David Fear

culturevulture.net

Rarely have simple scenes of people reminiscing been so heartbreaking.

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

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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

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Rob Epstein

Director

Jeffrey Friedman

Director

Rupert Everett

Narrator

Sharon Wood

Writer

Janet Cole

Producer

Michael Ehrenzweig

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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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