Paragraph 175

Synopsis:

During the Nazi regime, there was widespread persecution of homosexual men, which started in 1871 with the Paragraph 175 of the German Penal Code. Thousands were murdered in concentration camps. This powerful and disturbing documentary, narrated by Rupert Everett, presents for the first time the largely untold testimonies of some of those who survived.

Quick Thoughts:

“Paragraph 175” is a powerful, and haunting queer documentary that’s actually quite difficult to watch. The trouble is that this award-winning documentary has essentially been ignored, and was nearly too late even when it was filmed in 2000. In a documentary full of tragic historic events and recollections of the persecution of homosexuals under Nazi Germany’s reign, perhaps the saddest part is the statement that at the time of filming, there were only ten known homosexuals still alive who had survived the camps. In a time when history is on the verge of repeating itself (or worse, those who want to erase the facts of history itself), it’s even more important to not forget the events that led to the horrors of the holocaust. Be prepared to get upset and emotional, but do not skip watching “Paragraph 175” – it’s a crucial part of queer history.