CATO in Prien: A moving concert film about courage and resistance
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A moving portrait of Cato Bontjes van Beek in the Christuskirche Prien
The concert film CATO – I want to live, live, live brings the story of young resistance fighter Cato Bontjes van Beek to Prien am Chiemsee on November 13, 2026. Helge Burggrabe combines original texts from Cato's letters with vocal music, historical soundscapes, and an intense cinematic staging.
Words that resonate to this day
Cato Bontjes van Beek was executed on August 5, 1943, at the young age of 22 in Berlin-Plötzensee. Her letters speak of joy of life, connection to nature, literature, and a profound thirst for knowledge. At the same time, they document courage, determination, and mental resilience in the face of oppression and unfreedom.
Between concert film and concert reading
The production by Helge Burggrabe combines acting, spoken passages, and vocal music into a concentrated text-music collage. Julia Jentsch reads the original texts of Cato. Christoph Jöde takes on male roles, and Lorenz Meyboden guides the narrative as the narrator. The renowned vocal ensemble SJAELLA interprets Burggrabe's compositions as well as music from the 1930s and works by Johann Sebastian Bach.
An intense concert experience with historical depth
The acoustic atmosphere of the Christuskirche creates a fitting space for the quiet and powerful moments of the film. Voices, choral sound, and orchestration merge into a stage performance where memory is not abstract but immediately tangible. The musical synchronization opens an emotional access to Cato's world of thoughts.
A timeless symbol of humanity
Cato Bontjes van Beek stands for an attitude that resonates even today: not to stop at words, but to take responsibility. The concert film makes her biography, her letters, and her inner independence accessible to a broad audience. The runtime is 78 minutes, and the event is suitable for ages 12 and up.
Conclusion: Experience history live and intensely
CATO – I want to live, live, live awaits the audience as a thoughtful, musically multifaceted, and emotional church cinema. Those who wish to experience music, literature, contemporary history, and strong voices together will find a special evening in the Christuskirche Prien. Admission is free, donations are welcome.
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