The Einstein of Sex
| The Einstein of Sex | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| German | Der Einstein des Sex |
| Directed by | Rosa von Praunheim |
| Written by | Chris Kraus Valentin Passoni |
| Starring | Kai Schumann Friedel von Wangenheim Otto Sander Ben Becker Meret Becker Wolfgang Völz |
| Cinematography | Elfi Mikesch |
| Edited by | Mike Shephard |
| Music by | Karl-Ernst Sasse |
Release date |
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| Country | Germany |
| Language | German |
The Einstein of Sex(also known as:The Einstein of Sex – Life and Work of Dr. M. Hirschfeld,Germantitle:Der Einstein des Sex) is a1999GermanfilmbyRosa von Praunheim.The plot follows the life of the Jewish doctor, sexologist, and gay socialistMagnus Hirschfeld.
The film was shown at theBerlin International Film Festivaland at theSão Paulo International Film Festivalin 2000, among others.[1][2]
Plot
[edit]Magnus Hirschfeld made a name for himself as a co-founder ofsexologyand a founder of the first gay rights organization in 1897. In the film, three of Hirschfeld's closest friends are portrayed: Baron Hermann von Teschenberg (with whom Hirschfeld shares a complicated romance), aide Karl Giese, andDora "Dörchen" Richter.They establish theInstitut für SexualwissenschaftinBerlinin 1919 and try to keep the institute open during the rise of theThird Reichin the early 1930s. Hirschfeld even gave lectures in the USA while theNaziscondemned his educational work. The Nazis destroyed the Institut in 1933, sending Hirschfeld into permanent exile in France.
Cast
[edit]- Friedel von Wangenheim as Dr. M. Hirschfeld
- Ben Beckeras Adolf Brand
- Wolfgang Völzas Polizeipräsident
- Otto Sanderas Professor Steinach
- Meret Beckeras Arbeiterin
- Monika Hansen as Gräfin
- Gerd Lukas Storzer as Baron von Teschenberg
- Olaf Drauschke as Karl Giese
- Tima die Göttliche asDorchen
- Harald Glitz as Hochzeitsgast
- Ulrich Jackwit as Geheimrat
- Kai Schuhmann as Magnus Hirschfeld (young)
Awards
[edit]- 1999: Nomination for theGolden Leopardat theLocarno Festival[3]
Reception
[edit]The German magazineSpiegelwrote: "Rapid rise and early suffering, political furor and private disaster, told in a pleasingly conventional way against the political background of the Weimar Republic - a cinematic poetry album of upright feelings."[4]
Although inspired by Hirschfeld's life, the film is semi-fictitious, containing invented characters and incidents and attributing motives and sentiments to Hirschfeld and others with little or no historical evidence. (Ralf Dose)[5]
"And the Nazis had really managed to make Hirschfeld almost forgotten for a long time. Until Rosa von Praunheim shot his filmThe Einstein of Sexabout him in 1999 – and thus rescued him from oblivion. "(Berliner Morgenpost)[6]
Notes
[edit]- ^"Der Einstein des Sex".Mubi.Retrieved2022-05-02.
- ^"DER EINSTEIN DES SEX - LEBEN UND WERK DES DR. HIRSCHFELD".Internet Movie Database.Retrieved2022-05-02.
- ^"Rosa von Praunheim - Awards".Internet Movie Database.Retrieved2022-05-02.
- ^"»Der Einstein des Sex«".Der Spiegel.12 March 2000.Retrieved2022-05-02.
- ^Ralf Dose,Magnus Hirschfeld: The Origins of the Gay Liberation Movement(New York City: Monthly Review Press, 2014);ISBN978-1-58367-437-6.
- ^"A pioneer of the Enlightenment".Berliner Morgenpost.21 October 2022.Retrieved2023-04-02.
External links
[edit]- 1999 films
- 1990s biographical films
- 1999 LGBT-related films
- German biographical films
- Films directed by Rosa von Praunheim
- Magnus Hirschfeld
- Films set in Berlin
- Gay-related films
- Transgender-related films
- Films set in the 1890s
- Films set in the 1900s
- Films set in the 1910s
- Films set in the 1920s
- Films set in the 1930s
- Biographical films about physicians
- German LGBT-related films
- Biographical films about LGBT people
- 1990s German films