 It was taken in black and white in 1960 and 1961, with Wekwerth and Peter Palitzsch directing.The film's first presentation was on 10 February 1961, in the presence of Alexander Abusch, minister of culture, at the Berlin cinema Oranienburger Tor Lichtspiele.The film was shown simultaneously at 14 regional capitals of the GDR, marking the 63rd birthday of Brecht.