PA prisoner of four concentration camps during the Second World War, Austrian psychiatrist Viktor Frankl established himself worldwide through his testimony in defense of the meaning of life and human freedom — whatever the suffering, obstacles or difficulties that may arise. Seeking to recover details of the trajectory of this personality who marked history in the 20th century, the documentary “Beyond freedom” premiered on Sunday (26). Result of a partnership between the Lumine streaming platform and the Em Rota institute, the film can be seen for free on Lumine’s YouTube channel and also within the platform, for subscribers.
The production team traveled to five countries, with the aim of making unprecedented records of places that shaped the biography of the founder of Logotherapy. The route includes the Czech Republic, Argentina, Austria, Poland and Germany, with emphasis on the confinement centers where he was. In these places, testimonies were collected from people who lived closely with Viktor Frankl, including his wife Elly Frankl and student Elizabeth Lucas.
“This launch has a very strong connection with our reason for being. For four years, we have existed to tell stories that need to be told and that have the ability to enlighten people, inspiring universal values. Frankl’s heroic life, for everything he went through and everything he taught us from these experiences, is a lighthouse”, points out the founder of Lumine, Matheus Bazzo.
Lasting 1h30, the feature film has as guides professors and psychologists Luis Enrique Paulino Carmelo and Claudio García Pintos, who are references in the work of the Austrian psychiatrist. “I have been studying Logotherapy for ten years and working with it in the clinic. And, for some time now, I’ve wanted to learn a little about Viktor Frankl’s life in situ”, reveals Luis Enrique, who took the initiative to produce the film and approached Lumine to carry out the project.
Directed by Gustavo Leite and Julia Sondermann, “ Além da Liberdade” was produced over ten months. “The story is told from proximity. We expose the reality within the context in which he found himself, showing that, even in the face of extreme conditions, difficulties can be overcome”, reflects Leite.
In total, to make the film, three concentration camps were visited: Auschwitz, Dachau and Terezin. According to the directors, the various recordings were captured to simulate, for those watching the documentary, an experience of what it would be like to be in these places. It’s as if it were a first-person experience, with a series of audiovisual resources, like the sounds of war. “We understand the life of Viktor Frankl as we go on this journey”, summarizes the director.
“Beyond Freedom” had a preview last Friday (24), in a special session for guests, in a cinema in São Paulo. In addition to being shown on Lumine’s YouTube channel to the entire public, never-before-seen scenes from the film will be made available to subscribers of the streaming platform, including a round table with discussions about the psychiatrist’s biography.
Who was Viktor Frankl?
Born into a Jewish family in Vienna (Austria) in 1905, he was persecuted and had almost his entire family killed by the Nazis. In the concentration camps, he witnessed the worst that humanity is capable of, but he also noticed the greatness of spirit of people who managed to overcome difficult circumstances.
The observation of the strength of human freedom impacted him in such a way that, after the war, he dedicated himself to studying this topic in depth. Based on his discoveries, he founded a school of psychotherapy called Logoterapia and wrote books that became bestsellers.
At each stage of his career, he put into practice what he sought to convey with his theory: there is always meaning to be found, even in the midst of suffering. He says, “everything can be taken from a person except one thing: the freedom to choose one’s attitude in any circumstance in life.”
He is the scientist with the most decorations of the 20th century, receiving 30 Doctor Honoris Causa titles. He has been invited to give lectures at more than 200 universities around the world, on five continents. Mother Teresa of Calcutta nominated him to compete for the Nobel Peace Prize.
