Ari Libsker's documentary takes us back to the 1950s and 1960s and gets to the bottom of the strange phenomenon of these publications. Who are the people behind the author names such as 'Ralph Butcher' and 'Mike Baden'? How can the books be linked to the Eichmann trial, which was so present in the media at the same time? And why did they enjoy such great popularity?
Interviews with a 'Stalag' collector, publicists, artists and one of the authors shed light on the background to the porno-literary success story and tell of the fierce controversies surrounding the books: About sexual education, talking about the Shoah, Holocaust survivors' desire for revenge and the moral questions they raised.
The film also shows numerous covers of the 'Stalag' books, which are reminiscent of the illustrations in US comic books - with the difference that the 'heroines' wear Nazi uniforms in these erotic and violent depictions.
Text: Merlin Webers
Supporting films: JEWISH FETISH (Amir Steklov, DE 2021, 1 min) & DIVING IN (Nitzan Mager, US 2022, 7 min)
After the screening there will be a Q&A with Amir Steklov, director of the supporting short film JEWISH FETISH.
