German Public TV tells our story beautifully

Viktor Leberecht, a poly activist in Berlin, sends word of a remarkable half-hour show about two polyfamilies that just aired on the German public TV channel ZDF. "I Love Not Just One: Happy with multiple partners" was shown August 2nd as part of the documentary series 37 Grad ("37°"). It follows two groups of people in depth: a sweet, homey bunch in their 60s or so (pictured above), and a group a generation younger.

I don't know German, but the imagery in the video says so much by itself! [Update: It's now on YouTube with English subtitles added by a volunteer: http://youtu.be/y_qn9wNSvqQ . For the subtitles, click the CC button while the video is playing.] Can you imagine PBS daring to air a show on alternative relationships this gentle and kind? The title of the documentary series, 37°, is the Celsius temperature of human warmth. Think "98.6" as you watch the opening sequence.

Watch the show (in Flash). If that doesn't work, try one of the non-Flash versions. I don't know how long it will remain on the program's website. Can someone capture it? For archival purposes only, of course....

On his blogsite, Viktor Leberecht (a pseudonym) has posted links to additional material about the show, how was made, and its makers Jana Matthes and Andrea Schramm (in German).

Here's a discussion of the show on 37 Grad's Facebook page.

Also, the show's site suggests four recent German books on polyamory and open relationships as further reading, with their covers and descriptions.

And here is Leberecht's own booklist.

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Elsewhere in German public media, the public radio station Deutschlandradio Kultur broadcast a half-hour program on June 22nd, during evening prime time, titled "Because love is not exclusive! Polyamory as a concept of love and life?"

From the promo description (with help from Google Translate):

Polyamory: Created as a feminist movement in the late 90s in the U.S., this model of multiple committed relationships is currently experiencing a boom.

But can the supporters of polyamory really offer more than sexual freedom, and where exactly is the difference between open relationships and the politicized intimacy of '68?

An estimated 10,000 people are living in Germany "polyamor," and they are particularly concerned with rules and forms for their relationships. Behind this is also the need of people to continuously develop new theories of love.

Victor himself makes an appearance on the radio show. Here's the show's full written transcript. I can't find the audio online.

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Here are all my posts about German-language coverage (including this one; scroll down). I'm sure I've missed many. See the second most recent one for links to a bunch of German poly sites and resources.

Polyamory in the News gets more hits from Germany than from any other non-English-speaking country.

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ANNOUNCING A NEW WEBSITE:

ALAN'S LIST of POLYAMORY EVENTS!

I added a list of major upcoming poly events to my last post, with commentary and links to my writeups about the ones that I've been to. The list provoked enough interest, and new listings that I missed, that it clearly needs its own website.

Ta-dah! Here it is.

I intend to keep this list updated continuously. See the instructions there on how to suggest events to add. You can also post your own comments about events that you have been to.

I hope this fills the poly world's need for a single go-to place to find out about all major cons, gatherings, meetings, rallies, and festivals. Enjoy!

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