Germany / Jul 04, 2021 / Filmfest München
Based on the true story of the secret death penalty in East Germany
Overall average
5.0/10
Plot
The ambitious scientist Franz Walter doesn't hesitate when he is promised a professorship at the university. He immediately accepts, pledges absolute loyalty to the system and agrees to work for the GDR's foreign intelligence service until he can take up his new position. Together with his colleague Dirk, he is sent on foreign assignments to West Germany. Franz soon has to use blackmail to get innocent people to talk. But his superiors go even further: GDR refugees and their relatives are targeted to be psychologically destroyed, forged letters, medical diagnoses, surveillance and wiretapping are on the agenda. However, this is more than Franz can bear: he feels powerless and increasingly isolates himself. When he then decides to steal secret documents for a later defection to the West, this results in an unfortunate chain reaction leading to his arrest and ultimately to his execution...
Main cast
Full cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Moritz Jahn | Bodo Renner |
| Kai Wiesinger | Wagner |
| Peter Lohmeyer | Panther |
| Christian Redl | Hans Walter |
| Hedi Kriegeskotte | Margrit Walter |
| Neithardt Riedel | Corina's Father |
| Monika Härtl | Corina's Mother |
| Hendrik Heutmann | Bernd |
| Florian Anderer | Schulte |
| Inka Löwendorf | Anja Hartmann |
| Ada Philine Stappenbeck | Luisa Langfeld |
| Leon Hoge | Horst Langfeld |
| Daniel Drewes | Judge Nolte |
| Thomas Schendel | Military Prosecutor Kühn |
| Hannes Hellmann | Judge Bergmann |
| Dirk Böhling | Müller |
| Georg Mitterstieler | Man in Airplane |
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| Hendrik Massute | HVA-Employee |
| Thomas Hintze | Physician |
Genres
Technical details
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Original title | Nahschuss |
| Original language | Deutsch (DE) |
| Spoken languages | Deutsch |
| Production countries | Germany |
| Status | Released |
| Production companies | Network Movie, C-Films Deutschland, ZDF, ARTE, Franks Filmproduktion |
| Release date | 12 agosto 2021 |
| Production | Wolfgang Cimera, Bettina Wente, Oliver Hack, Frank Mähr, Benjamin Seikel |
| Writer | Franziska Stünkel |
| Editing | Andrea Mertens |
| Cinematography | Nikolai von Graevenitz |
| Assistant directors | Franziska Stünkel |
| Camera operators | Nikolai von Graevenitz |
| Additional photography | Nikolai von Graevenitz |
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Release dates
Premiere
Australia / May 25, 2022 / German Film Festival
Limited release
Netherlands / Aug 12, 2021 / 12
Theatrical release
Denmark / Aug 12, 2021 / 15
Germany / Aug 12, 2021 / 12
Spain / Jan 05, 2022 / Adso Films
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