Coming Out

Coming Out is the first and only East German feature film about homosexuality, directed by Heiner Carow and premiered on November 9, 1989, the night the Berlin Wall was opened. The film explores the difficulties faced by queer people in East Germany and is widely screened at queer film festivals.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 108 pages
Publication date: 29 March 2022
Publisher: Boydell & Brewer Ltd

The production, setting, and importance of the first and only East German feature film about homosexuality are all explored in this essay. The state-run studios of East Germany, DEFA, took forty years to make the film Coming Out. The plot of the movie, which might seem incredibly mundane today, centers on Philipp, a young teacher who is gay but is unable to acknowledge it. He begins a relationship with Tanja, another teacher, but develops feelings for Matthias, a man he meets who exudes self-assurance. The film, which was directed by acclaimed director Heiner Carow, depicts the challenges that queer people in East Germany faced, both internally and externally.

In a strange twist of fate, Coming Out premiered in German theaters on November 9, 1989, the same night that the Berlin Wall fell, effectively overshadowing the film's initial release. However, the film has since gained popularity and is regularly screened worldwide, including at prominent queer film festivals. Kyle Frackman's book delves into the film's creation in the late East German context and its reception in the international arena. The book is openly available in digital formats under a Creative Commons license CC BY-NC.

Dimension: 191 x 133 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781640140899