The Fourth State
(The Fourth State)
by Dennis Gansel
Germany 2012, 115’
Starring Moritz Bleibtreu, Kasia Smutniak, Max Riemelt, Rade Serbedzija

Original version in english with Italian subtitles. Free entry.

Paul Jensen, a German journalist, accepts a job in Moscow. His life takes a dramatic turn when he falls in love with a young activist, Katja, and is inadvertently caught up in a terrorist attack. Wrongfully accused and imprisoned, Paul uncovers a web of political intrigue and corruption, risking his life to expose the truth.

With a tense narrative, engaging pacing, and themes of media manipulation and authoritarian power, this dark and oppressive thriller is made all the more credible by its Moscow setting and cold, gray cinematography.

La Deutsche Vita: A Journey Through German Cinema

This year, the film series celebrates the 80th anniversary of Rainer Werner Fassbinder, a pioneer of New German Cinema. His fearless storytelling exposed societal hypocrisy, power dynamics, and human contradictions. A tribute screening of Mother Küsters Goes to Heaven highlights themes of class, family, and postwar struggles. The program also explores memory, war, justice, and women’s roles, with motherhood symbolizing resilience amid today’s crises.

In Collaboration With:
Città di Palermo – Assessorato alla Cultura
Centro Evangelico di Cultura Giacomo Bonelli
Sicilia Queer Filmfest