Of Special Merit (1968)

Of Special Merit (1968) poster

An attack on a piece of reactionary German legislation discriminating against young film directors. The film features a head-on, close-up shot of a penis ‘mouthing’ the parliamentary defense of the law by its author. A landmark in political pamphleteering, the film was selected for the 1968 Oberhausen International Short Film Festival by a committee of leading German critics and promptly banned by the city government, causing the withdrawal of almost all German directors from the festival and a national scandal. The title satirically refers to the official certificate of ‘Particularly Valuable’ given each year to the best film shorts by an Establishment selection.

Director: Hellmuth Costard
Runtime: 11 min
Release Date:

Cast

Screenplay

Country: Germany
Language: Deutsch
Original Language: de
More Films by Director: Hellmuth Costard

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Of Special Merit about?
An attack on a piece of reactionary German legislation discriminating against young film directors. The film features a head-on, close-up shot of a penis ‘mouthing’ the parliamentary defense of the law by its author. A landmark in political pamphleteering, the film was selected for the 1968 Oberhausen International Short Film Festival by a committee of leading German critics and promptly banned by the city government, causing the withdrawal of almost all German directors from the festival and a national scandal. The title satirically refers to the official certificate of ‘Particularly Valuable’ given each year to the best film shorts by an Establishment selection.
Who directed Of Special Merit?
Of Special Merit was directed by Hellmuth Costard.
Who stars in Of Special Merit?
Of Special Merit stars Hellmuth Costard, Hans Toussaint.
How long is Of Special Merit?
Of Special Merit has a runtime of 11m (11 minutes).
Where was Of Special Merit produced?
Of Special Merit was produced in Germany.