Maximilian Dortu at the Freiburg City Archive: Film history meets memory culture
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A film evening between revolution, memory, and freedom
A forgotten chapter of German democratic history returns to the screen: On October 15, 2026, the Freiburg City Archive will show the GDR television film Maximilian Dortu. Or: Only the Dead Do Not Return. The film screening with Dr. Florian Hoffmann combines historical awareness, cinematic contemporary history, and a subsequent discussion into a compelling stage experience in an extended sense.
A chamber play about a revolutionary
The film, directed by Jens-Peter Proll in 1976, tells the story of Maximilian Dortu, a protagonist of the revolution of 1848/49. The chamber play centers on a young man who advocated democratic and early socialist ideas, participated in the Baden uprising, and after the defeat of the revolutionary troops was sentenced to death by a Prussian military court.
Film as a historical document
The production took place in the then German Democratic Republic and was first broadcast on GDR television in February 1977. Today, the work encounters the audience not only as a historical film narrative but also as a time document of its period of origin. Dramaturgy, acting artistry, and the concentrated form of the chamber play open up a view of how revolution, memory, and political interpretation are artistically depicted in film.
Freiburg as a place of memory
Maximilian Dortu was born in 1826 in Potsdam and executed in Freiburg in 1849. His story is closely linked to the city: His tomb in Wiehre still commemorates the failure and the victims of the Baden Revolution. The film screening will take place alongside the exhibition Maximilian Dortu – A Life for Freedom and Justice, which can be seen in the City Archive until October 31, 2026.
Historical contextualization and conversation
Before the screening, Dr. Florian Hoffmann, head of the Freiburg City Archive, will contextualize the film and its historical source. Afterwards, a discussion will provide space for questions about Dortu's political legacy, memory culture, and the cinematic portrayal of revolutionary biographies. This creates a theater atmosphere of concentrated listening, seeing, and collective reflection.
Conclusion: History comes alive
This Freiburg cultural event is aimed at anyone who wants to connect film, city history, and democratic memory. Those who encounter Maximilian Dortu on the screen experience more than a historical film screening: an immediate dialogue emerges between past and present. Admission is free, registration is recommended due to limited capacity.
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