An Evening of Remembrance in Schwerin: Film and Conversation about the Plane Crash of 1986
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Remembrance, Film, and Contemporary History: An Evening of Commemoration in Schwerin
On October 14, 2026, a special evening of remembrance at the Waldfriedhof Schwerin will commemorate the plane crash on December 12, 1986. In the mourning hall, freelance author and journalist Matthias Baerens will present the NDR documentary Grief Under Control – The Plane Crash of 1986. The film by Carolin Kock from 2025 examines the state-controlled handling of grief in the GDR.
Cinematic Approach to a Repressed Chapter
The 55-minute documentary provides a concentrated look at a disaster in which 72 people lost their lives. The focus is not only on the events themselves but also on the political and societal mechanisms that shaped public dealing with loss and grief in the GDR. The cinematic research connects contemporary history, media analysis, and personal memory.
Research, Eyewitnesses, and Historical Responsibility
Matthias Baerens has researched for years in various archives and has sought out and interviewed numerous eyewitnesses. He published his findings in the book Grief Under Control. The evening thus provides a well-founded examination of the documentary while also introducing the methods of historical remembrance work.
Conversation about Memory Culture
Following the film screening, Matthias Baerens invites participants to an open conversation about the film, the plane crash, and memory culture in Schwerin. He will also provide information on access to archives and files for those affected and interested. The conversation creates space for questions, personal perspectives, and a critically-reflected engagement with the past.
A Dignified Place for the Artistic Experience of Remembrance
The mourning hall at the Waldfriedhof provides a quiet and dignified setting for the evening. The exhibition atmosphere, in the narrower sense, gives way to a concentrated aesthetic experience of the documentary film: images, voices, archival material, and the special spatial effect combine to create an intense artistic experience. Cultural education arises from the encounter with historical sources and the joint examination of the work.
Conclusion: Making History Visible Together
This evening combines film screening, historical research, and personal commemoration. Art enthusiasts, historical researchers, and anyone interested in GDR history, regional memory culture, and societal reappraisal will experience an informed and moving engagement with a long-lasting event. The visit invites one to understand remembrance not as a closed past but as a living process.
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