When does the screening take place?

The screening begins on Sunday, October 4, 2026, at 3:30 PM and is expected to end around 5:00 PM.

Where will Walk to Syracuse be shown?

The screening will take place at filmforum at Dellplatz 16 in 47051 Duisburg.

What is the film about?

The film tells the story of Paul Gompitz, an East German citizen who wants to travel to Italy, plans an escape, and later returns as the only one from his circle.

Who plays the main role?

Charly Hübner plays Paul Gompitz. Lina Beckmann portrays his wife Anne.

Is the event accessible?

There is no verified information regarding the accessibility of this specific screening.

What does a ticket cost?

No verified ticket price has been found for this specific screening. Information on admission prices can be obtained from filmforum Duisburg.

Walk to Syracuse: A Moving Journey Between Escape, Longing, and Freedom

Name: Walk to Syracuse
Start: 2026-10-04T15:30:00+02:00
End: 2026-10-04T17:00:00+02:00
Location: filmforum

Walk to Syracuse: Longing, Freedom, and an Unusual Way Back

A man dreams of Italy and risks everything for it – yet his story does not end with the escape. On Sunday, October 4, 2026, filmforum Duisburg will show Lars Jessen's sensitive tragicomedy Walk to Syracuse. Charly Hübner portrays Paul Gompitz, an East German citizen who yearns for Sicily and is the only one from his circle to return.

An Escape That Begins with Patience

Paul Gompitz lives in a world where even a desire for Italy seems politically suspicious. Inspired by Johann Gottfried Seume’s famous travelogue and Friedrich Christian Delius’ narrative, he plans his journey over many years. The film tells not as a classic escape thriller, but as a character-centered tragicomedy about perseverance, longing, and the desire for self-determination.

Charly Hübner Between Laconicism and Longing

The acting of Charly Hübner gives the main character a willful, melancholic, yet humorous presence. Beside him, Lina Beckmann plays Paul’s wife Anne. A quiet, credible relationship develops between them, the tenderness of which makes the political tensions stand out even more clearly.

Travel Images Between the Baltic Sea and Sicily

The production combines documentary observation, travel report, and fictional cinema. The close spaces of East Germany give way to maritime expanses, Italian light, and images of a longed-for freedom. Maps, landscapes, and visual ideas expand the stage and film experience with a poetic layer. The acoustics, music, and warm lighting lend a nearly summery lightness to the journey.

Drama of Long Preparation

The dramaturgy focuses on the years before the departure. This makes the film a study of planning, risk, and inner unrest. Instead of breathless tension, a slow pull is created: every prepared detail tells of a person who works for his freedom step by step.

Historical Background and Literary Trace

The story connects to the real escape of East German citizen Klaus Müller. Friedrich Christian Delius already processed this material literarily in 1995. At the same time, the narrative refers back to Johann Gottfried Seume’s travel report from 1802, a quirky classic of German travel literature. Thus, the film connects contemporary history, literature, and personal self-assertion.

A Stage Experience in the Cinema Hall

Even though Walk to Syracuse is not a theater performance in the narrower sense, an intense theater atmosphere develops in the cinema hall. Faces, glances, and pauses carry the narrative. The audience's reaction arises from the interplay of subtle humor, historical uneasiness, and the liberating power of a journey that never remains just a journey.

Conclusion: A Story About Leaving and Staying

Visitors can expect an unusual film evening about longing, rebellion, love, and belonging. Walk to Syracuse tells of a man who had to leave East Germany to discover where his home is. Those who understand cinema as a cultural stage experience, as historical reflection, and as a sensory journey will experience a special afternoon at filmforum Duisburg.