Great Freedom 2022

In 1968, Hans Hoffmann finds himself behind bars due to his involvement in cottaging, a practice that leads to his imprisonment. His prison companion, Viktor Bix, is serving a daunting 20-year sentence for murder. Amid the grim surroundings, during their time in the yard, Hans spots a familiar face, a young gay man named Leo, who was once his partner in illicit encounters. Unfortunately, Hans’s journey takes a darker turn as he faces solitary confinement, a time where he reflects on his tumultuous life.

Flashback to 1945, Hans was among the countless victims imprisoned in a concentration camp, targeted for his sexual orientation. Following the camp’s liberation by Allied forces, instead of freedom, Hans is thrust into the same prison that will confine him again in 1968, since homosexuality remains a criminal offense. It is there he encounters Viktor, who initially displays aggression towards Hans. However, upon noticing the number tattooed on Hans’s arm, a symbol of his past torment, Viktor’s demeanor shifts, and he offers to mask the tattoo with a new design, to which Hans consents.

In 1957, Hans faces imprisonment once more after being caught living with his boyfriend, Oskar. Tragically, Oskar, who struggles with the societal constraints of their relationship, takes his own life. The devastating news is delivered to Hans by Viktor during their yard time, resulting in an emotional outburst as Hans weeps uncontrollably. In a bid to comfort him, Viktor embraces Hans, leading both to solitary confinement once again.

As Hans reenters the prison in 1968, he is struck by Viktor’s drastic decline, marked by substance abuse. Leo, revealing a shocking betrayal, declares to the authorities that Hans coerced him into sexual acts. In a desperate attempt to ensure Leo’s release, Hans signs a confession implicating himself. Soon after, convinced of Viktor’s need for assistance, Hans proposes to help him overcome his drug addiction. Through bribery, Viktor secures a transfer to share a cell with Hans. During the harrowing withdrawal period, Viktor struggles, attempting to clandestinely use drugs. However, Hans intervenes, flushing the drugs down the toilet and embracing Viktor as he fights his addiction.

The following year, Hans comes across an issue of Der Spiegel that heralds the significant news of the partial repeal of Paragraph 175, which decriminalizes homosexual acts. This leads to mixed emotions as Hans informs Viktor of his impending release, stating he won’t return to prison.

Upon his release, Hans seeks solace at a local gay bar, where he witnesses men freely engaging in sexual acts. Overwhelmed by the stark contrast to his previous life, he abruptly exits the establishment. In a moment of desperation and rebellion, Hans grabs a brick and shatters the window of a jewelry store, filling his pockets with stolen items while waiting for the police to arrive, a poignant testament to his chaotic and tumultuous existence.