"Youth Without God"

A portrait of society based on Ödön von Horváth

During a school trip, a murder occurs. One of the students confesses, but he does not seem to be the true perpetrator. The teacher tries to bring the truth to light amidst accusations, intrigue, and hatred, but the confrontations with his students, their machinations, and not least their family backgrounds push him to the limits of law and conscience. In the struggle for the truth, he ultimately corners the perpetrator too much. In JUGEND OHNE GOTT, published as a novel in 1937, Ödön von Horváth depicts the rise of totalitarian tendencies in bourgeois society. Horváth's intention was to examine "the effects of the fascist ideology supported by the petty bourgeoisie." As a result, he came under the scrutiny of the Gestapo, which initiated the ban on the novel a year after its publication. It was not until the 1960s that "Jugend ohne Gott" established itself as a classic of modern literature... For more information: Website of the Staatstheater Cottbus.