THE EMPTY GRAVE

"THE EMPTY GRAVE" follows the emotive journey of two Tanzanian families in search of their stolen ancestors. Their quest leads them to Germany, where over 20,000 skulls and bones from former German colonies are stored—a haunting legacy of colonial plunder in the early 20th century, taken for research and as macabre trophies.

Set in the present, the film unveils the enduring traces and traumas inflicted by colonial crimes on families and communities. It navigates the obscure maze of German and Tanzanian bureaucracy, revealing the struggle to reckon with this painful history. While the issue has gained political attention, the film probes the complexity of identifying and repatriating these human remains while highlighting the resilience of the families.

CREW

Directors

Agnes Lisa Wegner, Cece Mlay

Producer

Christoph Holthof, Daniel Reich, Amil Shivji, Luna Selle

TV-Editor

Sara Günter

DOP

Marcus Winterbauer

Sound

Oliver Stahn

Editor

Donni Schönemund

Music

Hannah von Hübbenet