COEXISTENCE
COEXISTENCE
Trailer
How do erstwhile adversaries coexist in the shadow of war? Coexistence explores this little-known chapter of Königsberg’s postwar history, when Soviet families moved into a city still inhabited by East Prussians. Many others had already left—some “voluntarily,” others driven out. By turning its gaze to the fragile fabric of everyday life—children who play despite language barriers; neighbours who share walls yet eye each other with suspicion; gestures of kindness that tremble under the weight of mistrust—the film resists the grand narratives of history.
It is not about diplomatic treaties or military victories, but about the constant, small encounters of daily existence. Through re-enacted memories, archival footage, and eyewitness testimonies, the documentary portrays human vulnerability amid destruction and displacement. Coexistence itself is held in check by memories and fear: thoughts of revenge, the heavy recollection of the German invasion and occupation, the lingering anxiety that the Germans might one day return, and the emergence of a fragile, two-tier society keep everything in suspension.
The films refusal to divide history into winners and losers resonated most with audiences. Director Andrey Proskuryakov sums up the film’s essence: "It is not difficult to show who suffered more, but to convey how those who suffered maintained their humanity,"
Text: Simran Kashyap
Wed 05.11. I 20:30 I KAMMERBÜHNE I original version with English subtitles + simultaneous German translation
Thu 06.11. I 12:30 I GLAD-HOUSE I original version with English subtitles + simultaneous German translation
Andrey Proskuryakov
Vadim Faminsky
Galina Siver
Motion Array
Andrey Proskuryakov - Andrey Proskuryakov (b. 1976, Tver, Russia) is a documentary filmmaker and television director. He earned a PhD in Economic Theory before retraining as a television director. He began his career in 2003 at a small cable television studio and went on to create films and programs commissioned by major Russian broadcasters, often focusing on stories that explore the human spirit and inner transformation. His work consistently highlights personal journeys shaped by values, moral choices, and resilience. Proskuryakov’s characters overcome social stigma, systemic pressure, and even physical limitations. Whether they are artists defying cultural norms, survivors of historical trauma, or individuals rebuilding their lives in extreme conditions, his protagonists show that change is possible—both within oneself and in the world around them. He taught at the Moscow Institute of Culture and headed its student television studio, mentoring aspiring filmmakers. Since 2022, he has been living in Israel, where he records video testimonies of Holocaust survivors for Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center. His documentary about the Palmnicken tragedy won Best Documentary at the Arlington International Film Festival (USA).
