Schwesta Ewa
Stefan Kauertz
Rapper. Convict. Mother
Streaming on
The 6-part documentary series begins with her release from prison in February 2021. It’s a story of a woman who has been struggling for personal freedom all her life. What are her plans and desires for the future? Will she be able to leave her past behind?
“The series Schwesta Ewa - Rapper. Prisoner. Mother. begins with scenes of Malanda's release. She then sits on a leather sofa in a parking garage and – in her peculiar and Instagrammable way – tells her version of the Schwesta Ewa story.”
“Kiel’s red-light district at 16, street prostitution at 18. Ewa struggling as a sex worker. Ewa flourishing as a pimp. Ewa starting to rap as a way to 'get more customers in the brothel'.
It’s also a story about violence. It’s particularly disturbing when it becomes clear how normal her experiences of violence must feel to Malanda, like when she quickly repeats the words ‘someone else beat me up’ as if it were just another phrase, like when she talks about her mother beating her with a cable or a leather belt – her mother, whom she loves 'no matter what', whom she moved in with after her release.”
- Jurek Skrobala, Der Spiegel
Director STEFAN KAUERTZ
Producer ZORA NESSL
Author FALK SCHACHT, NAYA BINDZUS, STEFAN KAUERTZ
Head of Research JANNE GAERTNER
Camera CARMEN TREICHL, NICOLAI MEHRING
Editor HENNING HÜFNER-KRUSE, FELIX RUDEK, YVES BAAKES, OLIVER BRAND
Production Manager FRANZISCA JESSE
Executive Producer STEFAN KAUERTZ, YAN SCHOENEFELD