Directing

Sibylle Schönemann

Born October 5, 1953 · Berlin, Germany (age 72)

Sibylle Schönemann (born 1953, East Berlin, East Germany) is a German filmmaker and former DEFA assistant director known for the autobiographical documentary Locked-Up Time (1990). After studying directing at the Hochschule für Film und Fernsehen in Potsdam-Babelsberg, she worked at the DEFA Studio for Feature Films. In 1984, after applying for permission to leave East Germany, she and her husband…

Known For

Locked-Up Time

Locked-Up Time · 1991

MovieDocumentary

Filmmaker Sibylle Schoenemann, imprisoned by the GDR in 1984, was released to the FRG after having West Germany literally buy her freedom. In 1990 she went back and questioned those responsible.

Those Days in Terezín

Those Days in Terezín · 1997

Those Days in Terezín

MovieDocumentary

Looking for clues about the “Chaplin of Theresienstadt”, ghetto cabaret artist Karel Švenk, Schönemann meets his acquaintances and creates an intergenerational network of memory. Laughter was a form of defence. Resistance means commemoration.

Farewell to False Paradise

Farewell to False Paradise · 1989

Farewell to False Paradise

Ironies abound in this extremely sad melodrama about Elif, a Turkish immigrant in Germany who has been sent to prison for murdering her abusive husband. At the time of her imprisonment, she has never ventured outside the Turkish community, and even there has had no friends because of the demands her husband placed on her. She speaks no German. Now, in a place which most people find to be hell on earth, she gains a never-before known taste of freedom among these strangers, who don't even speak her own language. Unfortunately, as a "guest worker," she is horrified to discover that she is soon to be transferred to the horrific prisons of Turkey and will stand trial there for her crime, which will be much less understandingly dealt with in her home country than it would have been in Germany. The false paradise she must say goodbye to is her German prison.

Filmography

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Locked-Up Time

Locked-Up Time · 1991

MovieDocumentary

Filmmaker Sibylle Schoenemann, imprisoned by the GDR in 1984, was released to the FRG after having West Germany literally buy her freedom. In 1990 she went back and questioned those responsible.

Director

Those Days in Terezín

Those Days in Terezín · 1997

Those Days in Terezín

MovieDocumentary

Looking for clues about the “Chaplin of Theresienstadt”, ghetto cabaret artist Karel Švenk, Schönemann meets his acquaintances and creates an intergenerational network of memory. Laughter was a form of defence. Resistance means commemoration.

Director

Farewell to False Paradise

Farewell to False Paradise · 1989

Farewell to False Paradise

Ironies abound in this extremely sad melodrama about Elif, a Turkish immigrant in Germany who has been sent to prison for murdering her abusive husband. At the time of her imprisonment, she has never ventured outside the Turkish community, and even there has had no friends because of the demands her husband placed on her. She speaks no German. Now, in a place which most people find to be hell on earth, she gains a never-before known taste of freedom among these strangers, who don't even speak her own language. Unfortunately, as a "guest worker," she is horrified to discover that she is soon to be transferred to the horrific prisons of Turkey and will stand trial there for her crime, which will be much less understandingly dealt with in her home country than it would have been in Germany. The false paradise she must say goodbye to is her German prison.

Writer