Film Screening | Goethe-Cinema: Science Fiction and Social Critique

• Université d’Ottawa (Pavillon Hamelin, MHN257), Ottawa
• Language: German with English subtitles
• Price: free, suggested donation $5
• Part of series: Goethe-Cinema: Science fiction and social criticism

Goethe-Cinema @ uOttawa

Goethe-Cinema, our monthly thematic film series on German cinema has moved! – Screenings now once a month at the University of Ottawa (Hamelin Hall, 70 Av. Laurier East):

Germany, 2020, 90 Minuten 
Director: Andres Veiel 

In 2034, thirty‑one nations from the global south bring a lawsuit against the Federal Republic of Germany, seeking compensation for the damages caused by climate change. The plaintiffs argue that Article 6 of the UN Convention—the right to life itself—extends far beyond personal safety. In their view, it demands that nations protect the planet that sustains that life. By failing to curb the rise in global CO₂ levels, they claim, the Federal Republic of Germany has violated its duty under international law. And now, the world is calling it to account.Ökozid deftly weaves together past, present, and future, blending docudrama elements with fictional documentary storytelling.

The film’s historical backdrop draws on the doctoral research of political scientist Matthias Corbach, who uncovered the powerful lobbying efforts of Germany’s energy giants during the creation of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. To gain access to the classified files and documents essential to his investigation, Corbach first had to wage — and ultimately win — a years‑long legal battle against the Federal Chancellery and the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs. His victory opened the archive doors, revealing the forces shaping one of Europe’s most consequential climate policies.
Text: Partially Wikipedia, translated from German into English.