Sie sagt. Er sagt.

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She says. He says / Justice drama by Ferdinand von Schirach

The international bestselling author and former criminal defense lawyer Ferdinand von Schirach once again presents a morally complex, divisive topic for discussion in his new gripping judicial drama with analytical acuity.

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After "TERROR" and "GOTT", former criminal defense lawyer Ferdinand von Schirach, who has risen to become an international bestselling author, tackles a morally complex, divisive issue with analytical acuity in his new gripping justice drama "She says. Er sagt." (She says. He says.), Schirach once again presents a morally complex and divisive topic for discussion with analytical acuity.

Since the revelations about rape victims as part of the MeToo movement in 2017, hardly any other crime has provoked such an emotional response worldwide as sexual assault.

The criminal trial in "She says. He says.", in which the accusation of an alleged rape is being heard. Will the verdict follow the principle of "in dubio pro reo" - in case of doubt for the accused - because there are no witnesses and it is a case of testimony against testimony?

TV presenter Katharina Schlüter, famous for her high ratings, accuses entrepreneur Christian Thiede of raping her.

The two, who are now facing each other in court as opposing parties, had met on her talk show. One month after this encounter, he took the initiative and arranged to meet her. They both fell in love with each other. They ended their secret affair, which lasted exactly four years, because of their respective families. Nevertheless, both spouses filed for divorce.

She says that Christian Thiede was the love of her life. She says that they decided to separate together. She says they went to his apartment on August 14 at the chance reunion. She says that they kissed. She says they then went to the bedroom. She says that after the initial consensual sex, despite her repeated requests to stop, she was raped. Three days later, she reported Mr. Thiede.

He says that Katharina was also the love of his life. He says that the separation was not a joint decision, but that he ended the relationship. He says that they kissed at the chance meeting in his apartment on August 14. He says that they did not go into the bedroom but stayed on the sofa. He says that at no point did she clearly say NO to any action. He says that he did not rape her.

From stand-up to TV movie and bestseller

The TV film "She says. Er sagt.", was first broadcast by ZDF on February 26, 2024 as TV movie of the week on ZDF. The film was directed by Matti Geschonneck.

According to the industry portal DWDL, 4.59 million viewers watched the TV movie on the day it was broadcast, making ZDF the day's ratings winner. Of this, an average market share of 8.6 percent belonged to the important target group of 14 to 49-year-olds.

Following the TV film, the SPIEGEL TV documentary that was broadcast explored the question: "How is truth created in the courtroom?" The film by Sandra Hardinghaus and Gerit Jörn-Andres deals with the interesting question of how judges reach their verdicts - despite subjective opinions and other "soft factors". Here, 3.19 million viewers tuned in (market share: 14.4 percent).

Producer Oliver Berben on "She says. He says.": I wanted to make this movie because there are countless cases and issues in our society that cannot be clearly and definitively resolved in a court of law, but can be life-destroying for those affected. We wish for redemption through a court of law, but that doesn't always happen.

Quoted from Michael Schacht, BILD, 26.2.2024. Retrieved on 20.4.2024.

The book edition, published by btb Verlag on 28.2.2024, also got off to a highly successful start and immediately made it onto the SPIEGEL bestseller list for paperbacks. Despite the large first edition, the text soon had to be reprinted for a second edition.

Since March 13, 2024, the text has also been available as a film radio play with the cast of the ZDF film adaptation.

Price information:

Advance booking prices: from 17.50 euros to 28.50 euros Box Office prices: from 19.50 euros to 30.50 euros