Sinking The Gustloff: A Tragedy Exiled From Memory
Submitted by mkpoppie on Sat, 09/20/2008 - 09:14
Screening: Tuesday, October 21, 7pm, Estonian House
Producer: Marcus Kolga/Realworld Pictures/OMNI
Director: Marcus Kolga
Length: 46 minutes
Year: 2008 WORLD PREMIERE
Language: German, Russian, English with subtitles
In the Fall and Winter of 1944-1945 millions of Eastern European Germans
flee west to escape the terrifying revenge of the advancing Red Army. Many,
like Canadian-German Horst Woit, attempt to sail to safety from the port of
Gotenhafen/Gdynia across the stormy Baltic Sea. On January 30th, 1945,
Horst and his mother board The Wilhelm Gustloff, along with nearly 10,000
other German refugees. But hunting in the Baltic is a hungry Soviet submarine
captain and his crew on board the S-13. On that night, Horst Woit became
a survivor and witness to the worst maritime disaster in history, the sinking
of The Wilhelm Gustloff.
“Sinking The Gustloff” follows Horst as he returns to the final port of the
Gustloff, where he is joined by two other survivors to recount their shared
stories of escape and survival and to discuss the historical and political challenges
they have faced in telling their stories to others.
THIS IS A FREE PREMIERE. PLEASE RSVP TO info@realworldpictures.ca or sign up
at: www.sinkingthegustloff.com/premiere