Germany premiers film about Colonia Dignidad
by the El Reportero’s news services
A new film about the activities of the German sect Colonia Dignidad in southern Chile today revives the debate in Germany on how to deal with this chapter of German history.
In the film of 110 minutes that from today on is shown in German cinemas, the director Florian Gallenberger tells the story of the colony and its leader, Paul Schaefer, played by Swedish actor Michael Nyqvist.
The horror that happened in the Colonia Dignidad is introduced within a fictional story, which recounts a romance between Lena stewardess, played by Emma Watson, and German activist Daniel, played by German-Spanish actor Daniel Bruehl.
Both fall after the coup of September 11, 1973 in the hands of the dictatorship and the German sect.
The film also mentions the role of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG),its diplomats and intelligence services, an very important issue also at the political level in Germany.
For several years, victims of Colonia Dignidad fight for redress and compensation in this European nation.
At the same time,several criminals surrounding the Chief of this Sect, came to Germany to avoid criminal prosecution in Chile.
One of them was the doctor of the sect, Hartmut Hopp, who fled Chile in 2011 after receiving a five-year sentence for taking part of the sexual abuse of minors.
Nowadays he lives in the city of Krefeld, protected by German law.
The film’s director, Florian Gallenberger has these stories, and the role of the FRG embassy, that was collaborating with Colonia Dignidad and the Pinochet dictatorship.
The actor Daniel Bruehl also stressed that ‘when I asked around me who knew the Colonia Dignidad, I realized that almost nobody knew what happened’.
I think-he continued-that the work is just the beginning, because many of the perpetrators of the crimes committed in Colonia Dignidad are still alive.
Colombian Film Festival pays tribute to Susan Sarandon
The 56th Cartagena Film Festival (FICCI, in Spanish) pays tribute to the American actress and producer Susan Sarandon.
Lina Rodriguez, general director of the Cartagena Film Festival, will present the award, the Golden India Catalina, to the actress. FICCI bestows this award to Susan Sarandon as a recognition for her impeccable career and also for her social commitment to her current role as Goodwill Ambassador of UNICEF.
Sarandon will have two meetings with the public: the first one will take place tonight at the Adolfo Mejia theater, while a retrospective of the films in which she has worked on will be screened.
Also participate on Saturdayon Saturday, prior to the closing ceremony on Sunday, in a tribute by the Training Centre for Spanish Cooperation of the historic center of this city.
Lina Rodriguez said to the national radio that the American actress is an honor guest, and recalled her memorable performance in Thelma and Louise.
Other special guests are the filmmakers Brillante Mendoza (Philippines), Sharunas Bartas (Lithuania), Viktor Kossakovsky (Russia) and Ciro Guerra (Colombia), who have lectured on the seventh art during the Festival.
