During the eviction of environmental activists' tree houses in the Hambach Forest in 2018, our friend and colleague Steffen Meyn has a fatal accident. He leaves behind very personal footage which he captured over the two years before, a period wherein he got closer and closer to the activists.
Based on his footage and with statements by the persons he met there and made friends with, the film moves into the heart of the forest occupation and all its contradictions between political empowerment and self-sacrifice, police violence and militancy, utopianism and painful reality.
What does it mean to live an activistic life, and how does it get so far?
Based on his footage and with statements by the persons he met there and made friends with, the film moves into the heart of the forest occupation and all its contradictions between political empowerment and self-sacrifice, police violence and militancy, utopianism and painful reality.
What does it mean to live an activistic life, and how does it get so far?
Synopsis
For ten years now, a small patch of forest which is to be cut for the lignite open-cast mine, "Tagebau Hambach", is held occupied.
In 2018, the state North Rhine-Westphalia attempts to evict the occupation. During this, a tragic accident happens: film student Steffen Meyn, who was documenting the police operation from a tree house, falls down and dies on the spot.
"Lonely Oaks" is based upon the footage that he collected over the two years before, the majority of which was captured by a 360°-camera on his helmet.
Up close, we follow him into the forest and get to know the activists here who put their own bodies up against the destruction of nature.
Retrospective interviews with these activists give us personal insights and also show the contradictions of a life in activism. Steffen himself is enthusiastic about the utopian way of structuring society of the one hand, while on the other he struggles with their radicality. But, he always persists to be open toward everyone in this conflict.
In September 2018, a massive police operation starts which only afterwards will be declared illegal. At this moment, Steffen has found his place between the frontlines. His persistency on his self-given mission leads him up to the one suspension bridge that breaks.
Directors Jens Mühlhoff, Fabiana Fragale and Kilian Kuhlendahl were good friends of Steffen's. We tell the story of his way into the occupation strictly from Steffen's perspective and we want to make understandable the different forces which tear at him and at the whole occupation.
In 2018, the state North Rhine-Westphalia attempts to evict the occupation. During this, a tragic accident happens: film student Steffen Meyn, who was documenting the police operation from a tree house, falls down and dies on the spot.
"Lonely Oaks" is based upon the footage that he collected over the two years before, the majority of which was captured by a 360°-camera on his helmet.
Up close, we follow him into the forest and get to know the activists here who put their own bodies up against the destruction of nature.
Retrospective interviews with these activists give us personal insights and also show the contradictions of a life in activism. Steffen himself is enthusiastic about the utopian way of structuring society of the one hand, while on the other he struggles with their radicality. But, he always persists to be open toward everyone in this conflict.
In September 2018, a massive police operation starts which only afterwards will be declared illegal. At this moment, Steffen has found his place between the frontlines. His persistency on his self-given mission leads him up to the one suspension bridge that breaks.
Directors Jens Mühlhoff, Fabiana Fragale and Kilian Kuhlendahl were good friends of Steffen's. We tell the story of his way into the occupation strictly from Steffen's perspective and we want to make understandable the different forces which tear at him and at the whole occupation.
Credits
dokumentary, 100 min, 2023
Written and directed by: Fabiana Fragale, Kilian Kuhlendahl, Jens Mühlhoff
Editor: Ulf Albert (bfs)
DOP: Carina Neubohn and Steffen Meyn
Music: Antonio de Luca & Caroline Kox
Producers: Melanie Andernach, Knut Losen
featuring: Alaska, Diam, Frodo, Lilie, Lola, Tuk, Wo
Research supported by Film- und Medienstiftung NRW
Co-financed by Studio Musolff and Ludwig Kameraverleih.
funded by:
Film- und Medienstiftung NRW
Die Beauftragte der Bundesregierung für Kultur und Medien
MOIN Filmförderung Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein
Supported by German Films.
A MADE IN GERMANY Filmproduktion production
Written and directed by: Fabiana Fragale, Kilian Kuhlendahl, Jens Mühlhoff
Editor: Ulf Albert (bfs)
DOP: Carina Neubohn and Steffen Meyn
Music: Antonio de Luca & Caroline Kox
Producers: Melanie Andernach, Knut Losen
featuring: Alaska, Diam, Frodo, Lilie, Lola, Tuk, Wo
Research supported by Film- und Medienstiftung NRW
Co-financed by Studio Musolff and Ludwig Kameraverleih.
funded by:
Film- und Medienstiftung NRW
Die Beauftragte der Bundesregierung für Kultur und Medien
MOIN Filmförderung Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein
Supported by German Films.
A MADE IN GERMANY Filmproduktion production
