Gerdas Schweigen is a cinema documentary from 2008, based on the book of the same name by Knut Elstermann. In it, director Britta Wauer documents the true story of Elstermann’s Jewish nominal aunt Gerda. Daughter of Jewish parents from Poland and initially a neighbor, Gerda developed a close relationship of trust with the Elstermann family until she was kidnapped by the Nazis in 1939. Gerda also survived the Third Reich thanks to the Elstermanns and emigrated to the USA.

Recorded with the Brandenburg State Orchestra Frankfurt under the conductors Gernot Schulz and Jörg Iwer, Karim Sebastian Elias ( In Heaven, Under the Earth ) composed sensitive music that combines both the tragedy of Gerda’s fate and her joie de vivre into a gripping whole. At the 19th Kinofest in Lünen 2008 Karim Sebastian Elias was awarded the prize for the best film music for his orchestral composition to Gerda’s silence . As a bonus, the CD includes a track by Galt MacDermont and two tracks by Bennet Elias.

01. Gerda’s silence 3:36
02. Home – I have to leave 2:08
03. Forgiveness 3:52
04. Gerda’s story 3:09
05. Gerda’s childhood & neighbors 2:46
06. Berlin 1941 2:06
07. Auschwitz 1:27
08. Summer 1945 1:17
09. Welcome to NY 3:10
10. In November Part 1 1:54
11. In November Part 2 2:09
12. In November Part 3 3:09
13. On the other side 1:00
14. A little girl 1:16
15. Gerda’s mother 1:42
16. Knut 1:05
17. 1939 it got bad 1:10
18. Steven Part 1 1:10
19. Steven Part 2 2: 47
20.Witness Part 1 0:34
21.Witness Part 2 3:13
22.Interesting 1:28
23. Gerda’s Savior 1:28

Bonus tracks:
24. Ain’t got no / I got life – Galt MacDermont 1:31
25. A happy Couple 1:14
26. Berlin Boulevard – Bennet Elias 1:19
27. Zoltan, the fur dealer – Bennet Elias 0:30