State Protection at filmforum Duisburg: A legal thriller hits the nerve of the present


Date and Time
Location
Price
About this Event
Mood
Venue Type
State Protection at filmforum Duisburg: A legal thriller with political explosive power
When prosecutor Seyo Kim grips the steering wheel and loses her composure, the cinema hall transforms into a resonance chamber for rage, fear, and unyielding determination. Faraz Shariat's feature film State Protection takes place on November 12, 2026, at filmforum Duisburg, plunging into a distressing conflict between personal injury, right-wing violence, and institutional responsibility.
An investigator against the blind spots of the system
Seyo Kim, played by Chen Emilie Yan, works as a young German-Korean prosecutor against right-wing extremist violence in eastern Germany. After surviving a racially motivated attack herself, she begins to investigate on her own, defying the orders of her superiors. Dusty files, long-closed cases, and seemingly isolated incidents come together to form a disturbing picture.
The dramaturgy combines legal drama and political suspense cinema. The investigator becomes a victim, and the victim becomes an uncomfortable accuser. The film rigorously questions how resilient state institutions are when racist violence is no longer abstract but affects the individual personally.
Sober staging, tangible threat
Faraz Shariat opts for precise, reality-based direction. Courtrooms, agency hallways, and document archives do not appear as neutral backdrops but as stages of a power struggle. The factual dialogues and legal confrontations create a stark, almost quasi-documentary atmosphere, while the threat draws ever closer to Seyo.
Chen Emilie Yan carries the production with controlled acting, drawing impact from her character's fractures. Behind the professional demeanor of the prosecutor lie exhaustion, anger, and the fear of a system that claims its own objectivity. Julia Jentsch and Alev Irmak complement the ensemble with striking characters who challenge Seyo between institutional loyalty and personal solidarity.
A film between anger and resistance
State Protection was created based on extensive research into the German justice system and the handling of right-wing violence. The production celebrated its premiere in the Panorama section of Berlinale 2026 and won the audience award there. The combination of political analysis and thriller elements also shapes the cinematic experience in a metaphorical sense: the cinema hall becomes a dark negotiation chamber where every statement carries weight.
The film has an age rating of 12 and runs for approximately 114 minutes. The screening at filmforum begins at 20:15. The cinema presents the film as an intense, socially relevant evening event for all who wish to experience contemporary Germany, political cinema, and strong acting.
Conclusion: A necessary visit to the cinema
State Protection does not promise comfortable entertainment cinema but a penetrating legal drama with political edge. The audience can expect a concentrated staging, a strong lead actress, and a story that lingers long after the credits roll. For those who understand cinema as a place of confrontation, an evening full of tension, resonance, and uncomfortable questions awaits at filmforum Duisburg.
Official channels of Faraz Shariat and the film State Protection:
- Instagram: no official profile found
- Facebook: no official profile found
- YouTube: no official profile found
- Website: https://www.stateprotection-film.de/en
Sources:
- filmforum Duisburg – State Protection, showtimes and film information
- filmforum Duisburg – Program and tickets
- filmportal.de – State Protection, content and awards
- SWR Culture – State Protection: Thriller about blind spots in the judiciary and police
- Goethe-Institut – State Protection in the Berlinale context










