Paragraph 175 (2000)

In the radiant 1920s, Berlin was a haven for homosexuals, a vibrant sanctuary where they thrived amidst an artistic and intellectual renaissance. However, as the Nazis seized power, this Eden crumbled. From 1933 to 1945, 100,000 men were ensnared under the infamous Paragraph 175, a German sodomy law etched into the penal code since 1871. Some were incarcerated, others condemned to concentration camps. Out of the latter, a mere 4,000 survived. Now, less than ten of these survivors remain, their stories untold until the unveiling of the poignant film, Paragraph 175. Through a lens trained on this often overlooked atrocity of the Third Reich, Paragraph 175 offers a profound exploration of a hidden chapter in 20th-century history. The narrative is woven from the first-hand accounts of five survivors: a half-Jewish gay resistance fighter who aided refugees in Berlin; a Jewish lesbian who found sanctuary in England with the assistance of her secret crush; a German Christian photographer, once imprisoned for homosexuality, who enlisted in the army to "be with men"; and a French Alsatian adolescent forced to witness his lover's torture and murder in the camps. Their stories, bitter yet laced with wry humor and irony, paint a vivid picture of resilience in the face of unimaginable inhumanity. Through evocative images and deeply personal testimonies, Paragraph 175 tells a hauntingly compelling story that does not merely document past horrors, but also poses poignant questions about memory, history, and identity. With its intimate portraits and broad implications, Paragraph 175 is an essential piece of the historical puzzle, shining a spotlight on the lasting impact of these untold stories.

Paragraph 175 is a documentary movie featuring Rupert Everett.

Paragraph 175 is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Kanopy and it's also available on Criterion Channel.

It is also possible to buy Paragraph 175 on Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Kino Now, Vudu and YouTube.