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Prora is a drama film directed by Stéphane Riethauser and released in 2012. It tells the story of two young men, Noah (Tom Gramenz) and Jan (Swen Gippa), who meet each other during a holiday in Prora, the abandoned Nazi holiday resort on the island of Rügen in the Baltic Sea. The film explores themes of friendship, adolescence, and coming-of-age, as well as the legacy of the Nazi past in Germany.

The film begins with Noah, a shy and introverted teenager, who is sent by his mother to spend his summer vacation in Prora, a place he has never heard of before. There, he will meet Jan, a self-confident and outgoing young man, who is also spending his vacation in the resort. The two young men quickly become friends, and spend their days exploring the abandoned buildings and bunkers of Prora, swimming in the sea, and flirting with girls.

However, the idyllic days of the two friends are soon affected by the memories and ghosts of the past. Prora, as Noah and Jan soon discover, was originally built by the Nazis as a huge resort for the recreation of the German people, a project that was part of their propaganda strategy to promote the idea of Aryan supremacy and the glorification of the Third Reich. The imposing buildings of Prora, with their monumental architecture and massive concrete walls, bear witness to the past atrocities of the fascist regime.

As the two friends learn more about the history of Prora, their interactions and emotions become more complex and nuanced. Noah, the more sensitive and introspective of the two, is fascinated by the stories of the past and the ruins of the Nazi past, while Jan, the more adventurous and impulsive, is more interested in the present and the good times they are having. Their friendship is also affected by their different sexual orientations: while Noah is unsure and confused about his sexuality, Jan is openly gay and confident about his identity.

The tension and conflict between the two friends reach a climax when they attend a night party in one of the abandoned buildings, where a group of young neo-Nazis has also gathered. Noah is shocked and repulsed by the hateful and racist ideology of the neo-Nazis, and decides to confront them, while Jan, who has been flirting with one of the girls in the group, is more interested in having fun and fitting in. The scene is an example of the how the past lingers on in contemporary society, and how the struggle for freedom and equality is an ongoing process.

Prora is a moving and thoughtful film that explores important historical and social issues through the eyes of two young protagonists. The performances of Tom Gramenz and Swen Gippa are naturalistic and convincing, and the cinematography captures the beauty and melancholy of the abandoned resort. The soundtrack, which mixes pop and electronica music with classical pieces, creates a dreamy and nostalgic atmosphere that enhances the emotions of the film.

Prora is a film that invites reflection and empathy, and that shows the power of friendship and love in overcoming the traumas and scars of the past. It is a story that resonates with the struggles and hopes of young people today, and that encourages us to confront the difficult questions of history and memory with honesty and compassion.

Prora is a 2012 drama with a runtime of 23 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.2.