WIR SIND JUNG. WIR SIND STARK. (We Are Young. We Are Strong.)

Director: Burhan Qurbani Year: 2014 Runtime: 123 minutes Language: German (with English subtitles) Genre: Drama / Historical / Political Visual Style: Black & White and Colour Themes: Xenophobia, identity, youth unrest, immigration, and political silence. Cast: Jonas Nay, Trang Le Hong, Devid Striesow, Joel Basman, Saskia Rosendahl, David Schütter.

SYNOPSIS Set against the turbulent backdrop of post-reunification Germany, Wir sind jung. Wir sind stark. dramatizes the xenophobic riots that erupted in Rostock-Lichtenhagen in August 1992 - a dark and defining moment in modern German history. Told through three interwoven perspectives, the film explores the fault lines of a fractured society:  Stefan - An East German teenager drawn into a violent nationalist crowd in search of identity and belonging.  Lien - A young Vietnamese asylum seeker striving for stability amidst escalating hatred.  Martin - Stefan’s father, an SPD politician, torn between ambition and moral responsibility as tensions rise in his community. The film shifts from stark black-and-white to vivid colour as violence erupts, mirroring the descent from simmering tension to open chaos. Director Burhan Qurbani, the son of Afghan immigrants, delivers a searing exploration of youth unrest, political silence, and the dangerous consequences of fear and disillusionment. CRITICAL RECEPTION Widely praised for its emotional depth and historical resonance, the film was Germany’s official submission to the 88th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film. It stands as an unflinching portrait of a nation confronting the shadows of its own identity.

All are Welcome!