Short film series commemorates the life of Justin Sonder
All episodes are now online - screening at the cinema planned for 27 January
The third part of the three-part short film series on the life of Justin Sonder was released today. All episodes can be viewed at www.chemnitz.de/justinsonder and tell of the life and suffering of the late honorary citizen as well as today's efforts to honour his life's work.
The first episode describes Justin Sonder's childhood in Chemnitz, which is overshadowed by the increasing marginalisation of Jews from everyday life in society. Justin Sonder repeatedly told school classes about this time and his subsequent ordeal in the Auschwitz concentration camp. In the second episode, this dark chapter of German history is also described from the perspective of Justin Sonder's experiences.
The third episode concludes the series. It asks "What remains after Justin Sonder's death?" and is dedicated to the memorial project "A bench for Justin Sonder", which the International Auschwitz Committee and the City of Chemnitz have realised together. This has created a unique place of remembrance on the Brühl where you can sit down with Justin Sonder and talk to him.
Numerous companions have their say in the film: Christoph Heubner, initiator of the memorial project, Kerstin Claus, Justin Sonder's daughter, historian Dr Jürgen Nitsche, teacher Wolfgang Langer*, Enrico Hilbert, friend and chairman of the VVN-BdA, and artist Julia Kausch.
But Justin Sonder also tells many stories himself. An extensive interview was conducted with him in 2017. Parts of it were published in the film "Children at War", which deals with the war experiences of Chemnitz children around 1945. This film was shown to the public for the first time on 5 March 2018 and - like the current short films - was produced by the Chemnitz production company Red Tower Films on behalf of the City of Chemnitz.
On Holocaust Remembrance Day, 27 January 2025, 80 years after the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp, a cinema version of the three-part series will be shown in Chemnitz.
The project is being co-financed by tax revenue on the basis of the budget approved by the Saxon state parliament. Funding is provided by the Free State of Saxony via the "Social Cohesion" guideline.
*PM amended on 29/11/2024