Westler
 German DVD cover | |
| Directed by | Wieland Speck |
|---|---|
| Written by | Egbert Hörmann, Wieland Speck |
| Starring | Sigurd Rachman, Rainer Strecker and Andy Lucas |
Release date | 28 March 1987 (West Germany) |
Running time | 94 minutes |
| Country | West Germany |
| Language | German |
Westler is a 1985 film originally produced for West Germany television.[1] It was directed by Wieland Speck and broadcast on ZDF. It gained a Rotten Tomatoes rating of 44%[2]
Synopsis
Felix (played by Sigurd Rachman) is visited in West Berlin by an American friend from Los Angeles (played by Andy Lucas). The two make a day trip to East Berlin where they meet Thomas (played by Rainer Strecker).[3] Thomas and Felix fall in love but are divided by the Wall, much like all of Germany at the time. Felix tries to keep their relationship strong by making regular visits to Thomas in the East, but this raises the suspicions of the East German authorities. Eventually, Thomas seeks to flee to West Germany by flying to Prague, where a Czech friend has arranged a contact with an escape helper.
Awards
- Max Ophüls Festival, Audience Award, 1985
- San Francisco International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, Audience Award, 1986
- Torino International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, the Festival's Plate, 1987
References
- ↑ Uricchio, Marylynn (October 14, 1989). "‘Westler’ is simple love story". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved December 6, 2011.
- ↑ Rotten Tomatoes Westler (East of the Wall)
- ↑ New York Times Overview: Westler East of the Wall