Life in the GDR was not only documented on behalf of the state, but also by photographic artists and journalists. The documentary goes on a journey through time with some of them and shows little-known aspects of the GDR from its foundation to the fall of the Wall. Photographers in the GDR had a surprising amount of freedom; there was no explicit censorship of images. This allowed them to make visible what the state wanted to hide. This documentary presents two photographers who observed life in the GDR and whose work has been rediscovered in recent years.
Direction
Dual director approach mirrors collaborative resistance.
Editing
Juxtaposition of state archives with private photographs devastates.
Director
Daniel Guthmann
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The GDR's lack of explicit image censorship was strategic — controlling film stock and darkroom access functioned as invisible gatekeeping.
Many of these photographers worked day jobs for state media while smuggling their real work home in film canisters.
No ratings yet
Sign in to join the discussion — comments are spoiler-gated to your watch progress.
Discussion starters
DE
