In 2018, climate activists occupied Hambach Forest with heart and soul, which quickly became a symbol of resistance against politics and the economy. When the police cleared the forest, a young film student died in an accident: Steffen Meyn. He had accompanied the protest action with a 360° camera with journalistic intent – in solidarity, but by no means uncritically! This extraordinary documentary film is made up of the footage he left behind. It provides never-before-seen images and direct insights into a protest movement that is struggling to find its stance and suitable means. How far can and should activism go? “Vergiss Meyn nicht” poses precisely this question, which is more burning than ever in the face of blocked roads and raids!
Why do people jeopardise their lives for political purposes? And where does utopia meet painful reality? Driven by a fascination for activism and a belief in a better community, young film student Steffen Meyn travelled to the Hambach Forest in 2018. There, activists oppose the clearing of the forest by the RWE company. He quickly makes friends in their tree houses thanks to his open, friendly manner. He accompanies the protest action as a journalist with his 360° camera and films the police’s attempts to clear the forest live from the treetops. Until tragedy strikes: he falls to his death on site. His friends have created this documentary film from Steffen’s footage, which is an impressive study of activism in which the use of one’s own body appears to be the last resort.
Director: Fabiana Fragale, Kilian Kuhlendahl, Jens Mühlhoff, Germany 2023, 102 min., FSK from 12, German original version
Monday 27. May 2024 | Schloßtheater | 20:00 h
Followed by an audience discussion – director Kilian Kuhlendahl will be present
Kilian Kuhlendahl graduated from the KHM Cologne in 2017 and has since worked in various narrative formats as a director and author, primarily in collective work. After completing “Vergiss Meyn nicht”, Kilian is currently working on a documentary graphic novel about war granddaughters. More information about Kilian’s work: www.kkuhlendahl.de
