Great Freedom

Objective Rating: This movie is very good. I found that this film portrays the theme of gay prisons in post-Nazi Germany very well before Paragraph 175 was deleted. This film may of course be included in the list of other popular gay-themed films. Alas, in my personal opinion: The fictional story of this film bothers me a lot. At first I confused the chronology of this movie to understand what moment we are in. The next biggest obstacle is the scene asking for oral sex, which I think lacks motivation. I mean, he was just curious and wanted to try. Because we didn't showed enough sexual attraction. Lastly when the ending of this film somehow feels ironically hopeless (the great freedom he finally found after they abolished Paragraph 175 was having to go back to that prison), I doubt it will become a cult. Still, I like the optimistic side of the expressionless Hans Hoffman character's desperate expression. Such a good mood, fearless and moving.

The movie "Great Freedom" emphasizes how a simple paragraph of the German Criminal Code punished same-sex relationships for more than a century in Germany. Director and writer Sebastian Meise purposely place two incarcerated individuals in the same prison cell for a certain period of time: one for being a criminal and the other just for being homosexual. Two marginalized characters who accept their fates and the bitterness of their lives. The sad and lonely life of homosexual Hans Hoffmann, from suffering in concentration camps to prison in the 20th century, hasn't changed anything: the tortures, prejudices, and tattoos marks were the same, whether under the Nazi regime or under the American allies regime post-war. It's impossible not to think about so many real gays who went through the same or even worse situations. Actor Franz Rogowski as the homosexual Hans Hoffmann and Georg Friedrich as Viktor are spectacular, their performances are breathtaking, and they emanate originality and precision throughout the movie. This movie is a great tribute to everyone who hasn't been able to experience love simply because their partner is of the same sex. It's sad to read some reviews of the movie, I don't think the movie is perfect myself but watch it with Paragraph 175 in mind and the historical value this movie carries, we wouldn't speak freely about LGBTQ+ today. This film is fictional but history teaches this film is more of a documentary.

It's really quite rare that a queer romance movie is really done well. I just enjoy seeing queer love represented so well and I also felt like I learned something from this movie. It is not usually talked about how persecuted gay people have been and in most places still really are. This movie really beautiful!! The acting is heartbreaking and beautiful. I saw it in a theater and I can't wait to hopefully see it again and to own it soon. The only reason I give it a 9, is because the end was a little open ended and i don't tend to like those endings... lol.

I was not aware that the US sent gays directly from Nazi concentration camps to German prisons after the Nazis were defeated. This is a powerful film about a man who never loses his capacity to love another human being or to distinguish between right and wrong. In his quiet way, he is a hero. With each film, Rogowski, is more amazing.