Directed by Annette Baumeister, this powerful documentary rescues a forgotten queer story from history. It chronicles the life of international tennis champion Gottfried von Cramm (voiced by Pierce Brosnan) and his love for Manasse Herbst, a Jewish man, in the early 1930s, just before Hitler’s rise to power.
In an interview with Baumeister, I shared my extensive research on von Cramm and Herbst, helping to illuminate how their young love transformed into a fight for survival. Through rare archival footage and stunning animation, the film follows their journey and von Cramm’s courageous efforts to help his lover escape Nazi Germany.
Beyond a story of love and resilience, Playing to Survive is also a compelling piece of tennis history. Von Cramm, once ranked number two in the world, saw his career and reputation profoundly damaged by his conviction under Nazi Paragraph 175, which criminalized homosexuality. Even after the war, he remained excluded from the international tennis world, denied full recognition in the sport he loved.
