"He won't play for you, don't ask him", Loki Schmidt implores of Sandra Maischberger. Helmut Schmidt's failing hearing has robbed him of his passion as a pianist. This is one of many intense scenes from Maischberger's portrait of the former chancellor. The TV journalist and her camera-director husband, Jan Kerhart, accompanied Schmidt for over five years, meeting with him both publicly and privately, and sharing quiet moments with his wife Loki. "Maischberger and Kerhart capture unique moments and comments that make this portrait both a significant personal and political historical document", explained the jury. In a touching interview, Schmidt speaks about his wife's miscarriages. His silence speaks volumes. Edited by Thomas Schreiber (NDR).

Picture: © NDR/Jan Kerhart/Vincent TV

Laudation: Maybrit Illner