whisper & SHOUT

The documentary WHISPER & SHOUT is a striking portrayal of the East German music scene in the late 1980s. It documents in detail the punk and rock scene, capturing the musical ethos of an entire generation. In interviews, well-known bands like Silly, underground groups as well as fans and concert audiences discuss the role music played in their lives and how it expressed their identity. Conflicts with parents and the wider political climate in East Germany are also explored.

WHISPER & SHOUT shows music as a tool of protest for a subculture that expresses its rebellion against the political system. Along the way, the film also paints a vivid picture of fashion, youth and counterculture around bands like Feeling B., Sandow and Chicorée. Produced by the state-run DEFA studio for documentary films, the film drew hundreds of thousands of viewers to East German cinemas when it was released, just a year before the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Image © DEFA-Stiftung, Tina Bara