PROLOG DER FINSTERNIS / PROLOGUE TO THE DARKNESS

PROLOGUE TO THE DARKNESS

PROLOG DER FINSTERNIS / PROLOGUE TO THE DARKNESS

Director: Carsten Degenhardt
Short film | Germany | 2024
18 min | Stereo PCM

59th Hof International Film Festival
2025

Karl and Tristan grow up during the Nazi dictatorship. Tristan succumbs to the ideology of hatred, while Karl desperately tries to protect his family – especially his sister Erika, who has Down syndrome.

The film interweaves quotes from the AfD with the language of the Nazi era and reveals frightening parallels. A film about seduction, fear, and the courage to be human. With the question “What would you do (today)?” it challenges the audience and opens up a discourse that is more urgent today than ever before.

With Hans Marquardt, Katrin Filzen, Michael Schwarzmaier, Mick Renner, Neele Buchholz, Sebastian Krumbiegel, Timothy Peach

Cinematography Elias Maria, Editing Tilman Schulz, Sound Markus Georg te Heesen, Production Carsten Degenhardt, Josef Brandmaier, Elias Maria