Männerfreundschaften 2018

In this docudrama Rosa von Praunheim looks into Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s sexual orientation, especially into his erotic experiences during his travels in Italy. Contrary to the common belief, von Praunheim argues that Goethe was not a heartbreaker and conqueror after all. It was only in Italy, that he had diverse sexual experiences, not least with men. Von Praunheim bases his assumption on letters written by Goethe to his friend Friedrich Heinrich Jacobi about these sexual encounters. Some of the content of these letters is re-encated in the film. At the same time, historians and linguists analyse and classify the letters into their historical context.

Cast:

Rosa von Praunheim
Himself 

Matthias Luckey
Goethe 

Valentin Schmehl
Herzog Emil August 

Thomas Linz
von Platen / Seidel 

Tobias Schormann
Schiller 

Max Conrad
Jacobi 

• Friendship of Men