Films by Thomas Henkel

Germany 2015, 52 min
by Herbert Ostwald

Widely known as heralds of good luck and happiness, storks are very popular animals. This is especially true for Ruehstaedt, a tiny picturesque village in Germany. Every year the rooftops here are home for up to 40 pairs of White Stork, which in turn attract about 30.000 visitors per year to the remote village.For one breeding season the film portrays the fascinating coexistence of man and storks in Ruehstaedt.

2015, 130 min
by Sibylle Smolka

Many everyday life goods get to us from all over the world. Even though they have crossed thousands of miles, their prices are shockingly low. On almost every occasion, this counts in to the disadvantage of the producers. While global players make gigantic profits, the farmers stay poor. Meanwhile, an alternative to this scenario does exist: Goods and products derived from fair trade.But can we really change things by our personal shopping tendencies only? Do we as consumers hold the power to change consume for the better? The actor and author of bestseller books Hannes Jaenicke makes it his goal to find out exactly about these questions. In a journey around the globe, he visits various small famers and producers who sell their products via fair trade. They show him how they live and work. What kind of people are they? And what has changed for them by getting organized in fair trade unions?

Germany 2013, 52 min
by Sibylle Smolka, Dr. Stefanie Schmid-Altringer

The most natural thing in life has become a highly technical procedure. Today, pregnancy and birth primarily revolve around money. For the right price, the market is offering expecting parents nearly anything to make sure their child's health is guaranteed. Control, perfection and risk minimization, those are the commandments of a society increasingly defined by fear. What are the ramifications of this growing wish for a perfect and secure life? Does it harm society more than it helps it?