Umkohlung

Umkohlung is the first documentary film by DEFA director and screenwriter Thomas Kuschel. The film impressively depicts the preparations for the resettlement of over a hundred families of the village of Mücheln in the Geisel Valley region south of Halle (Saale), whose houses and farms were to make way for lignite mining. The resettlement officer has sympathy for those affected, but his task is to convince the residents of the necessity of moving. Scenes of demolition filmed by Wolfgang Dietzel using a hand-held camera alternate with images of the open-pit mine. The people have their say and speak openly about their concerns – before and after the relocation to new apartments.