Plot: In post-war Germany, liberation by the Allies does not mean freedom for all. Hans experiences repeated imprisonment under paragraph 175 of the penal code, which criminalizes homosexuality and systematically destroys his desire for freedom. Over the decades, he develops an unlikely bond with his cellmate Viktor, a convicted murderer. What starts as revulsion grows into affection
Alternative Plot: In Germany after WWII, the liberation by the Allies did not mean freedom for everyone. Hans (Franz Rogowski) has been found guilty of something the government deems a crime: he is gay. Under the 19th-century German penal code known as Paragraph 175, homosexuality is grounds for imprisonment, and Hans--over the course of multiple decades--is spied on and repeatedly jailed solely for his sexuality. As he returns to prison, again and again, Hans develops an ever-closer relationship with his cellmate Viktor (Georg Friedrich), a convicted murderer serving a life sentence. As their charged rapport blossoms over time into something far more tender, GREAT FREEDOM explores love, lost time, and the tenacity of the human spirit.
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