The Making of Prora
The Making of Prora

Movie spotlight

The Making of Prora

2013
Movie
20 min
German

"The Making of Prora" takes you behind the scenes of Stéphane Riethauser's award-winning short film "PRORA" (15 awards and 120 festivals worldwide) in this stunning location on Rügen Island along the Baltic Sea in Germany. Did Tom Gramenz really drop his pants to get the part? Did he turn gay after kissing Swen Gippa in front of the camera? How were the aerial shots made? Follow director Stéphane Riethauser's backstage comments, while DoP Marcus Winterbauer and sound engineer Carlos Ibañez argue about image and sound.

Insights

Director: Philipp GrieGenres: Documentary, History

Plot Summary

This documentary delves into the complex history and controversial future of Prora, a massive Nazi-era resort complex on the island of Rügen. It explores its construction as a propaganda tool, its varied uses through different historical periods, and the ongoing debate surrounding its redevelopment into luxury apartments and hotels.

Critical Reception

The documentary received attention for its exploration of a significant and often overlooked piece of German history, with critics noting its thorough research and presentation of conflicting perspectives on the site's preservation and redevelopment.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its detailed historical account of a monumental and ideologically charged structure.

  • Noted for presenting the ongoing challenges and debates surrounding the site's modernization.

  • Seen as an important contribution to understanding Germany's complex relationship with its past.

Google audience: Audience reviews often highlight the film's comprehensive historical overview and the fascinating, albeit unsettling, story of Prora. Many found the architectural scale and the conflicting attempts to repurpose it particularly intriguing, prompting discussions about historical memory and modern development.

Fun Fact

The sheer scale of the Prora complex, originally intended to house up to 20,000 vacationers, is one of the largest surviving examples of Nazi-era architecture.

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