Sanctuary

Set in the summer of 1968, West Germany is experiencing social upheaval and student protests, while Freistatt preserves a rigid, old-fashioned system. The period's optimism for change clashes with the harsh realities inside the home, highlighting a closed world where authority remains unquestioned. The setting uses the era to contrast youth longing for freedom with institutional control.

Freistatt sits in a secluded rural area of Lower Saxony, not far from Osnabrück. The home is run as a tightly regulated community under house staff who are addressed as 'brother'. Pupil life is marked by hard labor in peat bogs and a climate of fear, where dissent is punished and personal ties are strained.

🔒 Power Abuse

The film exposes how authority figures in Freistatt wield power through violence, isolation, and strict rules. Housefather Brockmann and the guardians enforce conformity with beatings, public shaming, and collective punishment. The regime is reinforced by a long institutional history, with Brockmann having run the home since 1943. The revelation of sexual abuse by Krapp among the staff shows a systemic rot at the core of the institution.

🕊️ Freedom vs Control

The boys repeatedly challenge the regime, staging uprisings during recreation and testing boundaries. Escape attempts lead Wolfgang and Anton toward Osnabrück, seeking a life outside the peat bog walls. Their actions are driven by a longing for home and the ambiguous promise of liberty. The period's constraints amplify the tension between freedom and punishment.

🌱 Trauma & Resilience

Wolfgang's experiences leave deep emotional and physical scars, shaping a guarded, wary outlook. The youths navigate fear, hunger, and violence while clinging to fragile moments of tenderness, like Angelika's presence. The narrative threads recovery, family, and the difficulty of healing within abusive systems. The final departure, with an uncertain future, underscores resilience earned through endurance.