Immersive asylum law drama at the interface of theater, film and cinema - with Corinna Harfouch, Pegah Ferydoni and others.
With the hybrid theater series "geRecht," suite42 examines the German asylum system – from the inside out. Who shapes the verdicts? Which often invisible processes play a role? How do personal views influence the work of judges, and how do they – and all other participants – handle their responsibility?
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geRecht
A walk-through film installation in the theater
Instead of focusing solely on the individual fates of refugees, "geRecht" focuses on the scope and interpretation within the asylum process
The three-part series combines digital and analog elements into an innovative theater format: floor-to-ceiling video projections, artistically designed spaces, and a multi-channel sound system create an immersive encounter with (over) life-sized judicial experts and plaintiffs. An intense, highly topical theater experience in the heart of the present.
Episode 1: Paragraphs and Reality
Renowned judge Katharina Baumann (Corinna Harfouch) is about to retire – and faces a life-changing decision. She must preside over the case of a plaintiff from Afghanistan (Omar El-Saedi), whose statements raise questions, even though his torture marks are visible.Is it simply misunderstandings by the young court interpreter (Anke Retzlaff)? At the same time, Baumann's own life is thrown into disarray when her son is kidnapped in a supposedly safe country of origin – the very country to which people are deported as a result of her rulings.
Episode 2: Cases of Freedom in Court
A plaintiff is about to have his right to asylum recognized – but suddenly, suspicion of terrorism is raised. Politicians and the media put everyone involved under pressure. Judge Baumann is caught up in her own past: She recognizes herself in the young plaintiff Azade Jahangiri, who is fighting against rejection after fleeing Afghanistan and Iran.
At the same time, she encounters the right-wing extremist daughter of an old friend – a confrontation with a bleak vision of the future. In the end, Baumann draws a radical conclusion: justice in the asylum system is a myth – and yet her personal responsibility as a judge and human being remains unavoidable.
PROGRAM
Episode 1: Asylum Law - Paragraphs and Reality (premiered in April 2021)
- September 23-25 / December 2 & 3, each at 8 p.m.
- With: Corinna Harfouch, Anke Retzlaff, Omar El-Saedi, and Roland Bonjour
Episode 2: Asylum Law - Cases of Freedom in Court (premiered in April 2025)
- October 30 & 31 / December 5 & 6 Each evening at 8 p.m.
- With: Corinna Harfouch, Pegah Ferydoni, Anke Retzlaff, Omar El-Saedi, Roland Bonjour, and Katja Riemann (voice only)
Additional information
We do apologize that the following information is currently only available in German.
