The Last Execution
“Based on the true story of the secret death penalty in East Germany”
The ambitious scientist Franz Walter doesn't hesitate when he is promised a professorship at the university. He immediately accepts, pledges absolute loyalty to the system and agrees to work for the GDR's foreign intelligence service until he can take up his new position. Together with his colleague Dirk, he is sent on foreign assignments to West Germany. Franz soon has to use blackmail to get innocent people to talk. But his superiors go even further: GDR refugees and their relatives are targeted to be psychologically destroyed, forged letters, medical diagnoses, surveillance and wiretapping are on the agenda. However, this is more than Franz can bear: he feels powerless and increasingly isolates himself. When he then decides to steal secret documents for a later defection to the West, this results in an unfortunate chain reaction leading to his arrest and ultimately to his execution...
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Cast
26 people
Franziska Stünkel Director · Nikolai von Graevenitz Cinematographer Andrea Mertens Editor
First release July 4, 2021 · Produced in Germany · Production C-Films Deutschland, ZDF
Production
Network Movie
Production
C-Films Deutschland
Production
ZDF
Production
ARTE
Production
Franks Filmproduktion
Production
Germany
Produced in
Languages
Original title
Nahschuss
Original language
German
Spoken on screen
German
Release dates
Germany · July 4, 2021
Premiere · Filmfest München
Germany · August 12, 2021
Theatrical
No release date listed for United States.
Australia
May 25, 2022 · Premiere · German Film Festival
Denmark
August 12, 2021 · Theatrical
Netherlands
August 12, 2021 · Limited theatrical
Spain
January 5, 2022 · Theatrical · Adso Films
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Some details come from TheTVDB.