Josef Reinhardt gazes out over the expansive field. The farmer next to him glances down or to the side most of the time, then murmurs: »I don’t remember.« The failure to recollect the crimes of the National Socialists seems to be a blessing for one person, but for someone else it prompts a journey to Salzburg. This was the site of the Maxglan labour camp from 1940 to 1943, from which many inmates were taken to extermination camps and murdered by the Nazi regime. As a child, Reinhardt was also there with his family, where we now look out over innocent green land. Based on his life story, Nina Gladitz traces the history of the making of the film Tiefland, made by Leni Riefenstahl between 1940 and 1944. She used Sinti and Roma prisoners from the forced labour camp as extras for her film. Gladitz investigates the question of how ignorant the director and producer really could have been about what was happening in the camps. Much more importantly, she gives the Sinti and Roma a voice and thereby the opportunity to reframe their narrative.
Following a court ruling, Time of Darkness and Silence was unavailable for a long time. An open letter in 2021 led to broadcaster WDR re-examining the files. Given the importance of the film for a scientific and social reappraisal of the segregation and murder of Sinti and Roma during National Socialism, the decision was made to approve its release.

This movie contains discriminatory language.

In cooperation with Romano Than e.V.

Guest: Board Romano Than e.V.