"He was rarely silent. For over five decades, he transformed German cinema, directed more than 150 short and feature films, and influenced the LGBTQ+ movement. His work was often uncomfortable, colorful, angry, sometimes offensive, but always thought-provoking. Rosa von Praunheim, who has died on December 17 in Berlin at the age of 83, leaves his mark as a pioneering figure of queer cinema."
"Born as Holger Radtke, von Praunheim emerged as one of the most outspoken activists in the gay movement in Germany during the early stages of his career. He fought for visibility and demanded change, sometimes using forceful methods to achieve his goals. One notable incident was his 1991 live broadcast, in which he publicly outed German television stars Hape Kerkeling and Alfred Biolek without their consent."
"He stayed artistically engaged throughout his life, creating films, writing books and directing plays. His final work, "Satanic Sow" (2025), became a legacy film: autobiographical and experimental, serving as both a reflection on his life and a farewell. Von Praunheim described the film as "a poem and a very experimental one at that." When asked why he made it, he responded simply, "I make films and plays all the time, so there's no particular reason. I just do it to be creative.""
Rosa von Praunheim was a prolific German filmmaker and queer activist born Holger Radtke who directed more than 150 short and feature films over five decades. He transformed German cinema with provocative, colorful, and often confrontational work that pushed LGBTQ+ visibility and debate. He used forceful tactics at times, most controversially outing television stars Hape Kerkeling and Alfred Biolek during a 1991 live broadcast without consent. Critics accused him of crossing boundaries while supporters praised his courage. He remained artistically active throughout his life, producing films, books, and plays; his final film, Satanic Sow (2025), was autobiographical and experimental.
Read at www.dw.com
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