THE CHILDREN OF KORNTAL
The pastor is encouraging forgiveness, many people in the parish feel that it’s time to put the matter to rest – and the former child victims are fighting for recognition and dignity…
Korntal, a little town in the south of Germany, is the scene of the greatest abuse scandal ever to rock the Protestant Church in Germany. An estimated 150 former children from homes run by the Pietist Brotherhood have broken their silence: They are revealing the physical and mental horrors to which they were exposed. Many of them were victims of sexualised violence there at an early age. The 9,000-person town and its parish have responded to the accusations with disbelief and denial. They cannot imagine that this could have happened in their God-fearing town. However, pressure is mounting on the Protestant brotherhood – which still runs children’s homes – and it is initiating an inquiry. There is much contention about compensation and how to proceed with the inquiry. Many victims are being re-traumatised by their testimonies being called into question and are describing the inquiry as further abuse.
The film gives 6 protagonists the chance to tell their stories and to put to rights what they feel the inquiry report fails to disclose. A sensitive, profound treatment of a highly topical subject.
Written and directed by Julia Charakter
Director of Photography Jonas Eckert
Editors Jonas Eckert & Julia Charakter
Music Leonard Küßner
Animation & Graphic design Mick Mahler
Line Producer Monika Mack
Producer Birgit Schulz
Commissioning editors
Melvina Kotios ZDF/Das kleine Fernsehspiel, Simone Theilmann, Arno Becker GEO Television
A production of Bildersturm Filmproduktion GmbH
in co-production with ZDF Kleines Fernsehspiel & Geo Television
Supported by
Film- und Medienstiftung NRW
Distributor
Salzgeber
Festivals
World Premiere: DOK Leipzig 2023
Filmfestival Cologne 2023