The Trial (2011)

The Trial (2011) poster

At 6am on May 21, 2008, armed police burst into the apartment of Austrian dog trainer and animal-rights activist Sabine Koch, arresting her. After three months in custody, Koch, together with 12 other animal-rights activists, went on trial. They were charged with being members of a criminal organisation and therefore breaching article 273a of the Austrian Penal Code, introduced in the wake of 9/11. The article’s intention is to allow the state to stifle terrorist activity. Years of observation, house searches, and undercover agents – the police left no stone unturned in its bid to prove the animal-rights activists’ guilt. The sobering result: five million Euros worth of investigation, no proof and a great deal of scepticism towards the Austrian justice system – and democracy itself.

Director: Gerald Igor Hauzenberger
Genre: Documentary
Runtime: 116 min
Release Date:

Cast

Screenplay

Music: Bernhard Fleischmann
Editing: Michael Palm
Production: FrameLab Film
Country: Austria
Language: Deutsch
Original Language: de

Themes

Animal Rights Activism and Compassion

Keywords

animal rights, activism, veganism, animal ethics

More Films by Director: Gerald Igor Hauzenberger
More Films in Genre: Documentary

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Trial about?
At 6am on May 21, 2008, armed police burst into the apartment of Austrian dog trainer and animal-rights activist Sabine Koch, arresting her. After three months in custody, Koch, together with 12 other animal-rights activists, went on trial. They were charged with being members of a criminal organisation and therefore breaching article 273a of the Austrian Penal Code, introduced in the wake of 9/11. The article’s intention is to allow the state to stifle terrorist activity. Years of observation, house searches, and undercover agents – the police left no stone unturned in its bid to prove the animal-rights activists’ guilt. The sobering result: five million Euros worth of investigation, no proof and a great deal of scepticism towards the Austrian justice system – and democracy itself.
Who directed The Trial?
The Trial was directed by Gerald Igor Hauzenberger.
Who stars in The Trial?
The Trial stars Martin Balluch, Felix Hnat, Sabine Koch, Jürgen Faulmann, Chris Moser.
How long is The Trial?
The Trial has a runtime of 1h 56m (116 minutes).
What genre is The Trial?
The Trial is a Documentary film.
Where was The Trial produced?
The Trial was produced in Austria.
What are the themes of The Trial?
The themes of The Trial include: Animal Rights Activism and Compassion.