Die Möllner Briefe

In November 1992, racist arson attacks in Mölln destroyed the lives of İbrahim Arslan and his family. The 7-year-old boy survived the fire, but tragically lost his sister, his cousin and his grandmother. In the aftermath, the city received hundreds of letters of solidarity, which were archived and forgotten for almost three decades. Interwoven with İbrahim's poignant journey down memory lane and his encounters with three women letter writers, these long-forgotten messages form an impressive visual bridge between past and present. The film accompanies İbrahim and his siblings and paints a sensitive portrait of the enduring trauma that still shapes their lives today. Through his fight against racism and his commitment to the victims, İbrahim has found a way to channel his pain. His brother Namık, on the other hand, is still struggling with the emotional scars of the past.

DIE MÖLLNER BRIEFE not only gives the survivors and victims a greater voice, but also reveals the hidden solidarity of which they were unaware for years. The film opens up a new perspective on remembrance: it focuses on the stories of the survivors and ensures that they receive the space and recognition they deserve.

The attacks in Mölln were the first racist attacks in reunified Germany that claimed the lives of three people: 10-year-old Yeliz Arslan, 14-year-old Ayşe Yılmaz and 51-year-old Bahide Arslan, who tried to save the two girls. Before she died, Bahide managed to save her 7-year-old grandson İbrahim Arslan from the flames by wrapping him in a wet cloth. Numerous people were injured in the attack.

This film will be shown as part of the "Wir sind die Brandmauer" ("We are the firewall") solidarity festival, which invites you to a day full of cohesion and solidarity with all those affected by right-wing, racist and anti-Semitic violence with a varied program including live music, readings, workshops, various information stands and good food from 2 pm.