The Lichter der Straße cinema tour got off to a highly successful start in Arnstadt, Thuringia: a total of 177 people filled the Theater Arnstadt auditorium on Tuesday evening.
I was very surprised by how full the theatre was. Unlike in the city, the audience was noticeably older. I would say that most of the guests were over 50 or even over 60.
After the screening, filmmaker Anna Friedrich took part in an in-depth Q&A.
The audience was particularly interested in the invisibility of Travellers in Germany and the lack of space afforded to them in society. The discussion also turned to the Yenish people and their language.
The cinema tour is important to me because it draws attention to the concerns of semi-nomadic women living in Germany. The film opens doors to subjects such as ways of life, freedom and prejudice – and that repeatedly prompts audiences to see things from a different perspective. Dialogue with the audience plays a central role in making these stories visible and carrying them forward.
The cinema tour continues! Anyone who would like to see Lichter der Straße, or even organise a screening themselves, can find all the information at lichterderstrasse.sonar.film. A crowdfunding campaign to support the tour is also still running. Anyone who would like to get involved can make a contribution there.
