HASS. HETZE. HOFFNUNG.
documentary | 2025 | 2 x 45 min

A two-part documentary about the murder of a female Chinese student in Eastern Germany in 2016 and the German-Asian community and its struggle to confront stereotypes and racism in everyday life.

EP01: The Murder of Lǐ Yángjié
EP02: Anti-asian racism in Germany


︎Stream the episodes on RTL+

The first episode of the two-part documentary focuses on the 2016 murder of Chinese student Lǐ Yángjié in Dessau. For the first time, the emphasis is not on the perpetrators but on media coverage, criticism of the investigation, and the trial. What role did a possible racist motive and stereotypes about Asian women play? How is the victim remembered? What significance does the case still hold for the Asian-German community today?

The second episode explores the everyday situations and aggressions that people who are perceived as Asian in Germany face daily. Where do these prejudices originate? How does racism escalate, and why do we no longer talk about past acts of violence, such as the attack on Halskestraße? Multiple generations of Asian-Germans share their experiences, resistance, and hopes.

Directors Quỳnh Lê Nguyễn & Claudia Tuyết Scheffel
Authors Quỳnh Lê Nguyễn, Claudia Tuyết Scheffel, Linda Kokkores, Philipp Link, Lillian Malan
Photography Nathan Ishar & Lukas Ishar
Editor Philipp Link

Miniature design Petra Schnakenberg
Miniature photography Manuel Lübbers
Animation Yining Tang
Graphic Design Stereoscope

Line Producer Lillian Malan
Producers Linda Kokkores, Philipp Link & Lillian Malan
Executive Producers Christoph Menardi & Torben Struck

Created by Linda Kokkores, Philipp Link & Lillian Malan


A production by NEOS FILM in cooperation with Gute Zeit Film.
Comissioned by RTL ZWEI.

with

Geertje Perlberg

Jennifer

Kien Nghi Ha

Kimiko Suda

Lee Hielscher

Long Nguyen

Luo Lingyuan

Maike Siu-Wuan Storf

Marianne Rossa

Nashi44

Ralf Zaizek

Rudolf Lückmann

Ruirui Zhou

Sven Peitzner

Tung

Vanessa Vu