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The Case of Johanna Langefeld

  • The Guard (Working title)
All titles (6)
Documentary | 2013-2019 | Portrait, War | Germany, Poland

Shooting data

LocationsRavensbrück
Filming regionsGermany - Brandenburg, Poland

Project data

Film financing
Length of movie1h 28min
Aspect ratio16:9 (1 : 1,78)

Trailers/Videos

Posters

Brief synopsis

The film explores the only known case of a high-ranking SS guard being supported by her own victims: Johanna Langefeld, chief-guard of the concentration camps for women in Auschwitz and Ravensbrueck, awaited trial for Nazi war crimes and escaped 23th Dec. 1946 with the help of Polish survivors of the Ravensbrueck concentration camp. The story was kept secret because its disclosure threatened punishment, both for the former German SS-guard, as well as for the Polish escape supporters.

The film authors jointly spoke with Polish survivors. They all share a real positive opinion about Johanna Langefeld. Former statements in trials confirm that she was no sadist but that Langefeld was a strongly convinced Nazi and anti-Semite. She ordered hard punishments and was involved in deportations into the gas chambers from Ravensbrück in Bernburg and Auschwitz.

Based on archival materials and witnesses, the film tries an approach to a high-ranking both Nazi-perpetrator and saviour. The Polish and German author will enhance the view at the Polish-German history from both perspectives seeking to clarify this mysterious episode of the early post-war era.

(Rohde-Dahl)

Crew

ActivityNameComment
Director of photographyUli Fischer
Director of photographyMartin Langner
Director of photographyTomasz Woźniczka
Director of photographyRomuald Lewandowski
Director of photographyPaweł Dyllus
Director of photographyKacper Czubak
Director of photographyMarek Domowicz
Director of photographyMateusz Skalski
Director of photographyGrzegorz Hartfiel
Director of photographyFilip Cichecki
Director of photographyTill Caspar Juon
Director of photographyStefan Malschofsky
Director of photographyMichał Żuberek
Director of photographyMichał Popiel-Machnicki
Director of photographyKacper Fertacz
Director of photographyMateusz Wajda
Director of photographyRalf Klingelhöfer
90 min HD (C300)
90 min HD (C300)
DirectorWładysław Jurkow
DirectorGerburg Rohde-Dahl
EditorMarek Domowicz
ComposerDariusz Kaliński
ProducerWładysław Jurkow
ProducerJan Kaczmarski
Production managerJan Kaczmarski
ScreenwriterGerburg Rohde-Dahl
ScreenwriterWładysław Jurkow
Sound recordist (non fiction)Lorenz Brehm
2 shooting days
2 shooting days

Awards

Award winnerYearAwardCategory 
Gerburg Rohde-Dahl2019Aegean Docs [gr]
Bester Foreign Film
Bester Foreign FilmWinner
Władysław Jurkow2019RIFFA, Regina International Film Festival [ca]
Best International Documentary
Best International DocumentaryWinner

Festivals

YearCountryFestivalComment
2021PolandKrakow Film Festival
Panorama of Polish documentary
Panorama of Polish documentary
2020GermanyNeisse Film Festival
2019CanadaRIFFA International Film Festival
Bester ausländischer Dokumentarfilm
Bester ausländischer Dokumentarfilm
2019GreeceAegean Docs
Best Foreign Film Award
Best Foreign Film Award
2019USA13th Annual Red Rock Film Festival
2019RussiaInternational Film Festival Minsk

TV-broadcast

TypeCountryStationDate / TimeComment
RepeatGermanyMDR [de]Sunday, 14/05/2023, 11.50 PM
First showingGermanyARD [de]Wednesday, 29/07/2020, 10.45 PM

Cinema releases and premieres

TypeCountryDateComment
Theatre releasePolandWednesday, 16/10/2019
PremiereTuesday, 28/05/2019Lubuskie Film Summer