Homeopathy Unrefuted?
The doors are closed. There are no more screenings of this film.
Synopsis: Despite the homeopathic doctors studying medicine, they treat their patients against the basis of scientific knowledge. Allegations of fraud surround the topic. In the film, homeopaths embark on adventurous explanations of their popular belief system.
Not an easy task with drugs like ‘North Pole‘ or ‘Laser‘, which are administered in the form of globules. Homeopathy, which is often confused with naturopathy, is “one of the most popular medical systems worldwide”. This is how Jens Behnke of the Carstens Foundation puts it. After investing about 30 million euros in research, pressure is increasing to prove that homeopathic drugs are more than just placebos. MD Christine Laschkolnig prefers to trust the positive feedback from her patients: “Children throw themselves on the floor and scream for their globules. They clearly feel this in their bodies.” Her colleague MD Maria-Lucia Kaut says: “What you observe is true. Period!“ But if all homeopaths make different observations and believe they are true, then critics are no longer needed to make the discussion exciting.
‘Homeopathy Unrefuted?‘ is an argumentative piece without an opponent. In any case, the protagonists are armed for defense. Too much is at stake, their own profession and how they view the world.
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Starring
Heinrich Hümmer
Cornelia Bajic
Christine Laschkolnig
Heiner Frei
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Director's Statement
‘Homeopathy Unrefuted?’ is a rare glimpse into homeopathic doubt by some of the world leading doctors who practice the controversial method. It provides a safe space where no skeptics are allowed to comment.
What remains of homeopathy when it’s robbed of its beautiful imagery, when suddenly the documentary focuses strictly on the language and expression of it’s protagonists? Exploration of the sometimes disturbing comments by old Hahnemann’s more orthodox disciples becomes compulsory. But also it allows us to cherish those who show a willingness of honest self-reflection.
In the end, what is left is the evidence that us humans, as thinking beings, can recognize deception, even if our gut feeling wants to succumb to it.
Director's Bio
Erik Lemke makes films about the average person’s struggle with life.
Erik Lemke was born in 1983 in Dresden. He studied film at Saint-Petersburg State Institute of Film and Television (Russia) and at École Supérieure d’Audiovisuel in Toulouse (France) between 2004 and 2008. After being employed in the Dresden-based animation film studio Balance Film, he moved to Berlin to become a freelance documentary film maker in 2010. Now he mainly works as an editor.
Erik’s films include the award-winning short documentary “No One Misses Me!” (2016) and his critically acclaimed feature length documentary “Berlin Excelsior” (2017).
As a member of documentary film producers and directors union AG DOK Erik organizes events around the themes archiving and preserving films, in order to sharpen film heritage awareness.