Prisonnier 9157 (PRISONER 9157) / World Premiere

In 1944, Dr. Georges Boogaerts, a Belgian surgeon held as a political prisoner in the Struthof concentration camp, resists losing his humanity by helping the sick in the infirmary. He becomes a key witness of the Nazis’ medical experiments and secret crimes committed in the crematorium block.

French with English subtitles.

Director's Statement:

Prisoner 9157 holds a great importance to me personally, because it tells the story of my grandfather, who was a true resistant and a courageous man during a very dark period in history. It was filmed at the former Natzweiler-Struthof camp where he was imprisoned.

For André Elias, the co-director and the cinematographer, this film was a chance to continue his cinematic exploration of themes like war, injustice, and the depiction of places deeply marked by memory and history.

Prisoner 9157 is about a man who was supposed to disappear under Hitler’s Night and Fog decree. It’s about the secret crimes he witnessed. But most of all, it’s about resisting and helping other inmates in the camp, and keeping his humanity under all circumstances. I believe his story needs to be told.

The filmmakers will attend the World Premiere screening of the film.