Goethe-Zentrum’s VR Films Bring History to Life in Hyderabad

In ‘MLK: Now is the Time’, a movie that explores the relevance of Dr Martin Luther King Jr’s iconic “I have a dream” speech, you’re inside a car, a Black American with tense, quiet hands on the wheel, the police watching your every move. Hands become a weapon in the eyes of authority, and even within this virtual space, there’s an undeniable tension—you must not move.

The boundary between real and virtual collapses and the viewer becomes part of the scene. At the Hamburg Hall of Goethe-Zentrum, that collapse feels like a ‘vroom’ into another era. This VR film experience takes you to different worlds —different times, histories, places.

In ‘MLK’, you’re taken to the times of the civil rights movement. The plot waits for your raised fist to move ahead, like an invitation to stand shoulder to shoulder in the civil rights movement. It is as if you are marching right alongside. "It’s intense," says Amita Desai, executive director of Goethe-Zentrum Hyderabad. "It’s like it’s happening inside your own head."

Running till November 17, this showcase at Goethe-Zentrum Hyderabad, in collaboration with Annapurna College of Film and Media, gathered VR films by creators from around the world, exploring history, culture, and human stories in unforgettable ways. This immersive experience drew enthusiastic participation from local students and cinema enthusiasts.

‘Tales of the March’ takes you through the Holocaust’s “Death Marches” of 1944-45, when SS guards forced prisoners across Germany. “Cinema has always been about transporting the audience to another place. VR takes this even further, creating a lasting impact,” Desai noted. “Experiencing these narratives can embed them in the psyche, making them more than just textbook facts.”

The showcase also includes ‘Conquest of the Skies’, narrated by Dir David Attenborough, along with ‘Aufwind’, ‘Reimagined Volume II: Mahal’, and ‘Perinatal Dreaming – Understanding Country’. Each film explores themes of history, social justice, environmental conservation, mythology, and human experience through VR storytelling.

Udatta Mohan Bhattacharya from Goethe-institute’s Regional Film Archive explains how the technology’s rapid evolution of VR hinders a fast application as it is a constant process of learning. “Every year, technology advances. Setting up this festival was an entirely new experience compared to last year,” he says.

VR’s adaptability for varied content, from gaming to historical reenactments, promises a future where such immersive storytelling may become increasingly accessible.

The institute has also created a movie-watching atmosphere right below the Hamburg Hall. Downstairs, there are food stalls offering popcorn, drinks, snacks, and even dhoklas. Part of the film-watching experience includes a makeshift lounge, which Desai describes as a space for audiences and enthusiasts to reflect and discuss. “People come together, sit, and talk about what they’ve just experienced. That’s the beauty of cinema—it’s not just a solitary activity but something that connects us,” Desai said.