Saturday 28 November 18:00 and Monday 30 November 13:30 

Berlin ‘36                                      
 Berlin ‘36  

It is 1936 and with preparations for the Berlin Olympics underway, the United States threatens to boycott the games if there are no Jews in the German team. Still aiming to mislead the world about their true ambitions, the Nazis are forced to admit some Jewish athletes, among them the leading female high jumper at the time - Gretel Bergmann. Gretel however, who emigrated to England and is the current UK champion, has no desire to return but the Nazis force her back by threatening her family in Germany. With seemingly no other German female high jumper around who could challenge Gretel, the unknown Marie Ketteler is suddenly introduced as a member of the team. Marginalized by the rest of the team, the two rivals forge a tenuous friendship, with Marie carrying a secret that puts their friendship and a hidden Nazi agenda to the test…

The film is based on the extraordinary true story of Gretel Bergmann, who was destined for an Olympic gold medal before she was forced from the German team. Her roommate and eventual replacement was Dora Ratjen – real name Horst Ratjen. It is a highly topical film in the light of recent news stories about South African athlete Caster Semenya.