Contergan: Die Eltern (2003)
From 1959 to 1962, about 5000 disabled children were born in Germany, often with shortened and altered limbs, but also very often with damage to internal organs. About half of the children did not survive. In November 1961, it turned out that the sleeping pill and sedative Contergan was responsible for the disabilities. The active ingredient thalidomide had disrupted the growth process of the children in the womb in the early stages of pregnancy. In this documentary, parents of the so-called "Contergan children" tell how they experienced the tragedy.
Director: Andreas Fischer
![]() |
Wolfgang Korruhn as Narrator |
![]() |
Sigrid Baumann-Senn as Self |
![]() |
Karin Berg-Kotterba as Self |
![]() |
Gisela Brückner as Self |
![]() |
Joachim Brückner as Self |
![]() |
Renata Cohen as Self |
![]() |
Gretel Herzel as Self |
![]() |
Alfred Herzel as Self |
![]() |
Walburga Schmidt-Hingerl as Self |
![]() |
Helga Tosana as Self |
![]() |
Linde Schulte-Hillen as Self |
![]() |
Karl-Herrmann Schulte-Hillen as Self |
| Production | Margit Hudelmaier | Production Manager |
| Production | Elodie Streuber | Production Manager |
| Camera | Till Butenschön | Assistant Camera |
| Sound | Klaus Waßen-Floren | Sound Designer |
| Production | Michael Gerloff | Researcher |
| Camera | Thomas Bianga | Assistant Camera |
| Directing | Elodie Streuber | Assistant Director |
| Crew | Christian Füllgraf | Legal Services |
| Directing | Fabienne Westhoff | Assistant Director |
| Art | Thomas Wilk | Title Designer |
| Production | Margit Hudelmaier | Researcher |
| Production | Ania Bellardi | Production Manager |
| Editing | Martina Pille | Editor |
| Editing | Fabienne Westhoff | Editor |
| Camera | Roland Breitschuh | Director of Photography |
| Directing | Andreas Fischer | Director |
| Writing | Andreas Fischer | Writer |
| Camera | Ralph Kaechele | Director of Photography |
| Camera | Dieter Stürmer | Director of Photography |
| Sound | Chara Kyriasoglou | Music |