Great Freedom

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Great Freedom

2022

1h 56m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

97%

Tomatometer

62 Reviews

90%

Popcornmeter

50+ Ratings

In Germany after WWII, the liberation by the Allies did not mean freedom for everyone. Hans (Franz Rogowski) has been found guilty of something the government deems a crime: he is gay. Under the 19th-century German penal code known as Paragraph 175, homosexuality is grounds for imprisonment, and Hans--over the course of multiple decades--is spied on and repeatedly jailed solely for his sexuality. As he returns to prison, again and again, Hans develops an ever-closer relationship with his cellmate Viktor (Georg Friedrich), a convicted murderer serving a life sentence. As their charged rapport blossoms over time into something far more tender, GREAT FREEDOM explores love, lost time, and the tenacity of the human spirit.

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Critics Consensus

With intelligence and sensitivity, Great Freedom draws on past injustices to present a beautifully crafted tribute to the persistence of the human spirit.

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Michael O'Sullivan

Washington Post

Apr 21, 2022

4/4

Gradually, a story of bittersweet beauty and unexpected tenderness emerges.

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Dwight Brown

National Newspaper Publishers Association

Mar 16, 2022

3/4

Sometimes a modicum of dialogue works best. That’s seems to be a basic strategy for Austrian writer/director Sebastian Meise and co-writer Thomas Reider. Show first. Tell second.

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Kevin Maher

The Times (UK)

Mar 15, 2022

4/5

A quiet and carefully constructed story about the sheer absurdity of the criminalisation of homosexuality, and about the denial of humanity that criminalisation required.

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Atreyo Palit

Loud and Clear Reviews

Jul 9, 2026

4.5/5

A beautiful ode to the struggles of the men Hans represents, Great Freedom is possibly one of the best films to be made in 2021.

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Stephanie Bunbury

Deadline Hollywood Daily

Sep 16, 2023

Without these actors, a film so uncompromisingly true to its subject would wither on the vine. With these two, however, the subtle play of feeling between them is gripping.

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Agustín Acevedo Kanopa

La Diaria

Oct 30, 2022

8/10

Meise performs all the signature movements of Almodóvar, Wong Kar Wai, Reynaldo Arenas or Pedro Lemebel adding an extra delay, as in a tragic tai-chi of Hanekian discipline.

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Garry A

@heavyg May 17, 2025

I was fascinated by what Hans went through....the man he loved committing suicide, the intimate bond he developed with his cell mate, and ultimately committing a crime so he could return to prison.

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Alec B

@Alec97 Feb 26, 2024

I was not prepared for the power of the movie which finds these achingly sad moments between the characters.

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Jon F

@RT44721479 Sep 24, 2023

A truly marvelous film about injustice, friendship, love and acceptance. The ensemble give incredible performances especially Frank Rogowski, who is amazing in his role. The hideous injustice that went on to gays in these days is rarely talked about and this film bravely deals with this matter. This is a true film with much depth and feeling.

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Wayne M

@Wayne93 Jun 18, 2023

Great Freedom is a superb and moving portrayal of human injustice. Set in Post War Germany it profiles the horrific 175 law, a law that outlawed homosexuality. At the centre of the story is Hans who is perpetually jailed through the 40s,50s and 60s simply for being gay. We follow his tragic story as he tries to maintain his dignity and humanity. In his first imprisonment he is roomed with Viktor, a murderer who is abhorred by his sexual preference. As they cross each other's paths over the years they manage to form a strange bond and friendship. This superb film intimately portrays the strength of human resilience and resistance. It's powerful and intense and moving. Performances are note perfect. Franz Rogowski and Georg Friedrich are just superb. Great Freedom is truly a great film.

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Richard D

@RT89807999 Aug 20, 2022

As a greatly anticipated film for me it turned out to be different to what I expected. I admit also that much of that anticipation was to see Franz Rogowski again after watching every moment of him in IN THE AISLES. Yes the cruelty of the injustice that put the main protagonist in jail is an important theme, but that it turns the mirror on us, as we are now, in the final minutes of the film is the beauty of this film.

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maria p

@marinor May 31, 2022

Devastating and heartwarming at the same time.

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Sebastian Meise

Director

Franz Rogowski

Hans Hoffmann

Georg Friedrich

Viktor Kohl

Anton von Lucke

Leo

Thomas Prenn

Oskar

Johannes Cramer

Amerikanischer Soldat

Great Freedom: Trailer 1

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Great Freedom: Teaser Trailer

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Synopsis

In Germany after WWII, the liberation by the Allies did not mean freedom for everyone. Hans (Franz Rogowski) has been found guilty of something the government deems a crime: he is gay. Under the 19th-century German penal code known as Paragraph 175, homosexuality is grounds for imprisonment, and Hans--over the course of multiple decades--is spied on and repeatedly jailed solely for his sexuality. As he returns to prison, again and again, Hans develops an ever-closer relationship with his cellmate Viktor (Georg Friedrich), a convicted murderer serving a life sentence. As their charged rapport blossoms over time into something far more tender, GREAT FREEDOM explores love, lost time, and the tenacity of the human spirit.

Director: Sebastian Meise
Producer: Benny Drechsel, Sabine Moser, Oliver Neumann
Screenwriter: Sebastian Meise, Thomas Reider
Distributor: MUBI
Production Co: FreibeuterFilm, Rohfilm
Genre: Drama
Original Language: German
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 4, 2022, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): May 6, 2022
Box Office (Gross USA): $68.6K
Runtime: 1h 56m

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