A new documentary on queer history – ‘Eldorado: Everything the Nazis Hate’ – premiered on Netflix globally in June 2023. The film tells the story of the worldwide first LGBT community forming in 1920s Berlin, and of its destruction in Nazi Germany. In the Golden Twenties, the German capital became known for its spirit of a new sexual freedom. There was a sense of collective empowerment, of joyful experimentation with gender identity and expression, of ownership over one’s own life. One hub of the emerging gay, lesbian and trans* scene was the “Eldorado” in Berlin, attracting locals and visitors from abroad alike. For a moment in history, everything seemed possible for queer people. But was it?
As the film’s historical and dramaturgic adviser, I worked closely with director Benjamin Cantu on tracing and reconstructing the lives of individuals who lived through these years. How could we best tell their stories? Eldorado shares this journey into our beginnings. Looking back, it also leaves us with the question how secure queer lives are today, with the backlash we see in many countries.
‘Eldorado’ reached the Netflix Top 10 in eleven countries after its release.
See also this background article: Deep dive into new Netflix documentary