Content: Full of confidence, more than 900 Jewish refugees leave the port of Hamburg in 1939. Nazi Germany behind them, freedom ahead. A visa for Cuba promises a life without fear. But Havana, the capital of the island nation, refuses entry. So Captain Schröder sets course for the USA. But Washington won’t let the “St. Louis” into a safe harbor either. When Canada also refuses admission, the journey to freedom turns into an odyssey on the Atlantic. On board, the words suicide and mutiny make the rounds. The “St. Louis” has to return to Europe and arrives in Antwerp just under a month after leaving the port of Hamburg. Almost a third of the passengers were murdered in the Nazi extermination camps in the following years.

UFA FICTION and NDR, in collaboration with HR, RBB and SWR, are commemorating the dramatic voyage with the docu-drama “Die Irrfahrt der St. Louis” (working title). Ben von Grafenstein (“Die Klasse – Berlin ’61”) is filming the scenes on a ship in Lisbon, Portugal, until May 16. The book was written by Susanne Beck and Thomas Eifler. The leading role is played by Ulrich Noethen (as Captain Gustav Schröder), with Britta Hammelstein (as passenger Martha), Johannes Kienast (First Mate), Florian Panzner (Steward), Golo Euler (Walter, Martha’s husband) and Attila Georg Borian (Passenger) also appearing in front of the camera.

The scenes depicted are supplemented by interviews with the last surviving contemporary witnesses, photos and impressive archive material.

“Die Ungewollten – Die Irrfahrt der St. Louis” is a UFA FICTION production commissioned by NDR, HR, RBB and SWR. Producers are Marc Lepetit and Benjamin Benedict, producer: Philipp Grieß, camera: Raphael Beinder. The editors at NDR are Marc Brasse (the station is in charge), at HR Esther Shapira, at RBB Rolf Bergmann and at SWR Ulrike Becker. Das Erste will show the docu-drama in the fall of this year.

The production of “Die Ungewollten – Die Irrfahrt der St. Louis” is funded by nordmedia- Film- und Mediengesellschaft Niedersachsen/Bremen mbH, supported by the Instituto do Cinema e Audiovisual (ICA) and Tourismo de Portugal.