Charles Lewinsky

Return ongewenst (original title: Gerron), the new novel by Charles Lewinsky, tells the true story of the Jewish actor Kurt Gerron. He performed in theatre with Max Reinhardt and Bertolt Brecht, and is for example the one who sings “Macky Messer” in the Dreigroschenoper, as well as appearing in many silent films. When sound film emerged, he remained a sought-after actor. He acted in films such as Die Drei von der Tankstelle (by Heinz Rühmann) and Joseph von Sternberg’s Der blaue Engel. Gerron also worked as a film director himself. When Jews were no longer welcome at UFA, the most important German film studio, he went into exile in the Netherlands. In 1944 he was deported to Theresienstadt. There he is confronted with a terrible dilemma. Return ongewenst follows him as he looks back on his life from within the concentration camp.

Charles Lewinsky (Zurich, 1946) has worked for many years as a dramaturge, director and editor, and writes novels, plays and television scripts. His Het lot van de familie Meijer was a major bestseller in the Netherlands, selling more than 300,000 copies. In 2010 he was already a guest at Crossing Border, then on the occasion of De verborgen geschiedenis van Courtillon. Now, with Return ongewenst, we welcome him at BorderKitchen.

Charles Lewinsky will be interviewed in English by Wim Brands (VPRO).

Location: Pulchri, Lange Voorhout 15, The Hague
Start time: 8:00 PM
Tickets: €7.50
Reservations: 070-3462355 (Mon–Fri) or info@borderkitchen.nl

Return ongewenst is translated from German by Elly Schippers.