Selbstversuch

Plot summary

Johanna is a dedicated female scientist in a near-future world. Her research team develops a drug called "Petersein masculinum 199," capable of transforming a woman into a man. Driven by scientific curiosity and an unrequited love for her cold project leader, Professor Peters, Johanna volunteers as the first human test subject.The chemical process succeeds, and she becomes a man named Johann Anders. However, the physical triumph quickly turns into a psychological crisis. As Johann, she experiences the world from a male perspective and is shocked by what she finds. The men around her live in a world of emotional detachment, power struggles, and casual sexism.When Johann sees how the Professor emotionally mistreats his own daughter, the illusion shatters. Horrified by the lack of empathy required to thrive in this patriarchal society, Johann ends the experiment on day 29. She chooses to change back into a woman, rejecting the toxic male world.

Crew

• personPeter VogelDirector · Writer
• personGünter HauboldWriter
• Bernd WefelmeyerMusic

Cast

Production companies

• DEFA-Studio für Spielfilme
• Fernsehen der DDR