Westerwelle
Synopsis
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.
Top Cast
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Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Jobst Knigge
- Screenplay & Story
- Dominik Wichmann, Klaus Brinkbäumer, Jobst Knigge
- Original Title
- Westerwelle
- Country of Origin
- Germany
- Spoken Languages
- German
- Runtime
- 1h 30m
- Production Studios
- Open Mind Media, LLC, WDR, MDR
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Jobst Knigge
Dominik Wichmann, Klaus Brinkbäumer, Jobst Knigge
Benedict Sicheneder, Jean Schablin, Sebastian Seibert
Marek Weinhold
Klaus Brinkbäumer, Dominik Wichmann, Rüdiger Barth
Department Leadership Roster
Jobst Knigge
Director
Dominik Wichmann
Screenplay
Klaus Brinkbäumer
Screenplay
Jobst Knigge
Screenplay
Benedict Sicheneder
Director of Photography
Jean Schablin
Director of Photography
Sebastian Seibert
Director of Photography
Marek Weinhold
Editor
Rüdiger Barth
Producer
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Westerwelle.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Westerwelle
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Westerwelle about?
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.
Who directed Westerwelle?
Westerwelle was directed by Jobst Knigge.
Who stars in Westerwelle?
The principal cast of Westerwelle includes Guido Westerwelle, Michael Mronz, Dominik Wichmann, Wolfgang Kubicki, Christian Lindner.
When was Westerwelle released and how long is it?
Westerwelle was released in 2026 with a total runtime of 1h 30m.