Westerwelle

Overview

A documentary that offers an intimate portrait of Guido Westerwelle, Germany’s former Vice-Chancellor, balancing his political career with his groundbreaking role as a gay pioneer. Released for the 10th anniversary of his death, the film explores the sharp contrast between his polarizing public persona and his private vulnerability. The narrative anchor consists of never-before-heard audio recordings from 2014, captured in Mallorca by journalist Dominik Wichmann as Westerwelle battled acute leukemia. The movie weaves these raw archives with emotional interviews from his husband, Michael Mronz, and key political rivals. It charts his rise within the FDP, his historic 2004 public coming out, and his legacy as Germany’s first openly gay cabinet minister. The plot highlights the unique diplomatic challenges he faced visiting nations hostile to LGBTQ+ rights, his sudden fall from political grace, and his final fight against cancer alongside Mronz.

Directed by Jobst Knigge

Top cast

Guido Westerwelle

Self (archive footage)

M

Michael Mronz

Self

D

Dominik Wichmann

Self

Wolfgang Kubicki

Self

Christian Lindner

Self

D

Daniel Bahr

Self

P

Philipp Rösler

Self

S

Silvana Koch-Mehrin

Self

Renate Künast

Self

Klaus Wowereit

Self

Gregor Gysi

Self

Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann

Self

Details