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Coming Out (15*) + ScreenTalk with actor Dirk Kummer

Queer 80s

,Cinema 1
Two young people look romantically in to each other's eyes whilst leaning against a window frame showing a city skyline.

An East German teacher has a sexual awakening following a fateful night in a gay bar in this powerful story of love and self-acceptance, originally released on the night the Berlin Wall fell. 

High school teacher Philipp (Matthias Freihof) starts a whirlwind relationship with a female colleague. However, an encounter with a man from his past triggers a journey of self-discovery, and a fateful night in a gay bar changes his life, leading to a romance with another man (Dirk Kummer). 

Heiner Carow, an established filmmaker in East Germany, directed this powerful story of gay love and self-acceptance, released in 1989, just as Germany, and, indeed, Europe were about to change, forever. It was one of the last films released by DEFA (the East German film studio) and premiered on 9 November 1989, the same night the Berlin Wall fell. The film features wonderful scenes in East Berlin’s gay hangouts, the legendary Zum Burgfrieden and Schoppenstube bars. 

Tagged with: Cinema Pride 2024 Queer 80s

East Germany 1989 dir Heiner Carow 113 min, in German with English subtitles

Following the film, there will be a ScreenTalk with Dirk Kummer, hosted by Timothy Phillips. 

Please note this film contains a scene of a suicide attempt and a scene of homophobic violence. 

‘Coming Out is a period piece, with its cigarettes, tight pants and typewriters, a snapshot from a bygone age. It is entertaining and revealing, a bit of an education, and a wonderful time capsule.‘
Derek Winnert, Classic Movie Review

Dr Timothy Phillips is a historian and travel writer. In his most recent book, The Curtain and The Wall (Granta, 2022), he travelled the length of the old Iron Curtain and retold the story of Coming Out’s creation and premiere.

Explore the rest of Queer 80s

There are plenty of great films screening as part of Queer 80s throughout June.

Cinema 1

Location
Barbican Cinema 1 is located within the main Barbican building on Level -2. Head to Level G and walk towards the Lakeside Terrace where you’ll find stairs and lifts to take you down to the venue floor.   

Address
Barbican Centre
Silk Street, London
EC2Y 8DS

Public transport
The Barbican is widely accessible by bus, tube, train and by foot or bicycle. Plan your journey and find more route information in ‘Your Visit’ or book your car parking space in advance.