When does the screening of Walk to Syracuse take place?

The screening begins on Monday, October 5, 2026, at 18:15 and is expected to end around 19:45.

Where will the film be shown?

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

How long is the film?

Walk to Syracuse lasts 97 minutes.

What is the age rating?

The film is rated suitable for ages 6 and up by the FSK.

How much does a ticket cost?

The regular admission on Monday, cinema day, is 7.90 Euro. Discounts may apply depending on the filmforum's terms.

Is the event barrier-free?

There is no sufficient information available regarding the specific accessibility of this screening in the available event information. Information is provided directly by filmforum.

Walk to Syracuse: A Quiet Departure Between Wanderlust, Freedom, and Home

Name: Walk to Syracuse
Start: 2026-10-05T18:15:00+02:00
End: 2026-10-05T19:45:00+02:00
Location: filmforum

Walk to Syracuse: A Longing for Freedom at filmforum Duisburg

A man, a forbidden wanderlust, and a plan that defines years of his life: On Monday, October 5, 2026, filmforum Duisburg will screen Lars Jessen's drama Walk to Syracuse. Charly Hübner portrays Paul Gompitz, an East German citizen who decides to travel to Sicily following the footsteps of Johann Gottfried Seume – and then return.

A Quiet Departure Against the Boundaries of Time

Paul lives in Rostock in the early 1980s and works as a waiter on a sightseeing boat. Reading Seume's travel report ignites in him the desire to experience the world beyond the heavily guarded border himself. The thought becomes a life project: Paul acquires West German currency, secretly learns to sail, and meticulously prepares for his escape.

The narrative does not focus on spectacular chases, but on the psychology of a man trapped between his ties to home and wanderlust. It is precisely this restrained staging that gives the film its tension. Every glance, every silence, and every cautious hint carries the weight of a decision.

Charly Hübner and Lina Beckmann: Acting Art in the Intermediate Space

Charly Hübner shapes Paul as a taciturn, stubborn, yet deeply sensitive character. His acting draws from small nuances: a dry humor, a scrutinizing gaze, a fatigue that hides behind apparent calmness. Lina Beckmann plays Anne, Paul's wife, who must not learn about his plans for protection against state persecution.

A finely balanced relationship full of closeness, discretion, and unspoken danger develops between the two. The audience's reaction is likely to stem less from external action than from the emotional precision of this couple. Their dialogues visibly illustrate how political systems affect private relationships.

Literary Adaptation Between Road Movie and East German Drama

Director Lars Jessen combines documentary character study, travel report, and tragicomedy. The basis is Friedrich Christian Delius's narrative The Walk from Rostock to Syracuse, which is based on a true event and refers to Johann Gottfried Seume's travel report. The walk thus becomes a poetic image for freedom, self-determination, and the courage to transcend an internal horizon.

The staging relies on a quiet, melancholic atmosphere. Baltic landscapes, maritime vastness, and the constraints of East German everyday life stand in a tension-filled contrast. There is no set of a classical theater performance; instead, the screen, lighting atmosphere, camera work, and acoustics of the cinema hall take its place. This creates a concentrated stage experience of the film: a shared viewing, in which personal memory and German contemporary history overlap.

A Film About Wanderlust, Loyalty, and Return

Walk to Syracuse tells not only of the lack of freedom to travel in East Germany. At its core is the question of what personal freedom costs and why a person remains bound to their home and a loved one despite all longing. Paul's journey therefore does not simply lead out of a country but right into a moral conflict.

The production refuses simple answers. It views escape not as a straightforward heroic story but as a contradictory process of preparation, fear, hope, and responsibility. This makes the film a culturally interesting literary adaptation and a poignant drama about the quiet forms of resistance.

Conclusion: A Concentrated Cinema Experience at filmforum

The audience at filmforum Duisburg can expect a 97-minute drama suitable for ages six and up, driven by Charly Hübner's nuanced performance, Lina Beckmann's strong presence, and Lars Jessen's sensitive direction. Those who appreciate German contemporary history, literary adaptations, and subtle, visually striking performances will experience a film full of wanderlust, melancholy, and human intimacy. Secure your ticket and accompany Paul Gompitz on his unusual journey to Syracuse.