Name: Walk to Syracuse
Start: 2026-08-23T15:30:00+02:00
End: 2026-08-23T17:00:00+02:00
Location: filmforum

A movie night between longing, freedom, and East German memory

Walk to Syracuse takes you into a melancholic comedy about departure, return, and the unwavering dream of Italy at the filmforum Duisburg. The film tells the story of Paul Gompitz, who returns from East Germany even though many others have fled, posing a question central to the narrative that extends far beyond the screen: What drives a person to seek their own path against all boundaries?

A story about wanderlust, courage, and inner movement

The staging does not rely on loud escalation but on a finely tuned balance between tragedy and lightness. Lars Jessen unfolds the source material by Friedrich Christian Delius as a calm, or rather as a poetic yet political travel narrative. Charly Hübner shapes Paul Gompitz with that mix of stubbornness, vulnerability, and dry humor that makes a character more than a historical reference: a person who suffers from longing almost as much as from the boundaries of his time.

A stage design of images that continue to live in the mind

Even though this is not a theater space but rather the cinema hall of the filmforum, the stage experience carries the weight of a great narrative. The light, the atmosphere of the house, and the focused acoustics direct attention to the subtleties of the dramaturgy: to glances, pauses, quiet shifts in tone. It is precisely in this that the strength of this production lies, telling the journey not as a mere distance but as a soulful movement. Critics and reviews particularly highlight the unique genre mix that intertwines documentary, road movie, and tragicomedy.

Charly Hübner, Lina Beckmann, and the power of nuance

At the center is an acting craft that never merely illustrates but makes thoughts and inner conflicts visible. Charly Hübner plays Paul as a man who learns more about himself with each step. Lina Beckmann adds a delicate tension to the relationship that gives the film additional depth. This results in an audience reaction that typically grows from silent attention: first the smile, then the contemplation, and finally that long resonance that makes good cultural evenings unforgettable.

The filmforum Duisburg as a fitting venue

The filmforum is the first municipal cinema in Germany and, with its special atmosphere, recalls a movie palace of the 1950s. Exactly this blend of tradition and vibrant presence fits ideally with a film that thinks together historical memory and personal freedom. The location at Dellplatz, the good connection, and the developed cinema culture make the visit uncomplicated yet special. Those who love culture find here more than just a show: a carefully framed live experience in the spirit of cinema.

Conclusion: A film for those with a sense of freedom and fine nuances

Walk to Syracuse promises a wise, poetic, and emotionally open evening at the filmforum Duisburg. Anyone interested in German cinema, biographical material, and moving narratives about departure and return should not miss this performance. This film invites you to think beyond borders with Paul Gompitz and to listen anew to your own longing.