According to the Library of Congress, 75% of all silent films are completely lost. It's tragic to me that so many films will never be seen again. I wanted to do a series of drawings in which I make tributes to these lost films based on the information available. Idk I'm a nerd ok
Different from the Others (Anders als die Andern) was a German film that came out in 1919. The story followed two men and their romantic love for eachother; social criticism, however, leads one man to commit suicide after he is outed. The film argues for the inclusion and normalization of homosexuals, and argues against the law at the time, which stated that homosexuality was a criminal offense. The film is the first of its kind to depict homosexuality in a positive light.
It amassed controversy upon its release and was quickly pulled from public theaters. Despite the backlash, many viewers were reportedly "moved to tears" by the tragic ending. The Weimar Republic enacted censorship laws, and the film henceforth was only allowed to be shown in private viewings to psychiatrists and doctors. Later, the Nazis destroyed all remaining copies, with only fragments of the film and photos surviving. It is now considered a partially lost film, given that only a few segments remain.