In their upcoming films, female German filmmakers explore fears, identity, and unusual friendships.
Internationally renowned director
Margarethe von Trotta, who the Goethe-Institut is honouring with a mini-retrospective on 'revolutionary women', is currently finishing an unusual project: She takes a closer look at filmmaker Ingmar Bergman’s life and work in her (first ever) documentary INGMAR BERGMAN – LEGACY OF A DEFINING GENIUS, out next year (for the Berlinale, is a safe bet). von Trotta, herself known for her teamwork with actors and fellow filmmakers, explores Bergman's artistic legacy with his closest collaborators, both in front of and behind the camera, as well as a new generation of filmmakers. The release is to coincide with the centenary of Bergman’s birth next year.
Before that though, von Trotta's latest feature film FORGET ABOUT NICK --in which two unlike women find themselves in the same apartment, the only link between them their ex-husband-- will have its international premiere in the Competition of the Tokyo International Film Festival (25 October – 3 November 2017), one of Asia's largest festivals. It stars one of her regulars, Katja Riemann (ROSENSTRASSE), as well as reuniting von Trotta with writing partner Pamela Katz (HANNAH ARENDT).
After making her debut with TOTEM in 2011, writer-director-producer Jessica Krummacher returns this year with her drama BIRTH, the story of the friendship between Max from Germany (Benno Ifland) and Osman from Turkey (Ender Turagankur). The film revolves around themes of opposites, desires and fear of change in the sleepy Turkish coastal town of Mordogan. In RESISTANCE, a documentary by Britta Schoening, a young Identitarian in Vienna, a Neo-Salafist in Berlin, and a left-wing activist in Athens each fight in their way for a new Europe. Connecting all three is their search for identity, Affiliation, and their resistance to the status quo.
In comic-artist and filmmaker Ziska Riemann’s ELECTRIC GIRL, young actress Mia (award-winning newcomer Victoria Schulz) dubs the animé-superhero Kimiko. However, she begins to believe that she is not only
doing the voice, but also
being the animated blue-haired superwoman. Reality and imagination begin to become indistinguishable to Mia as she chases ever more wildly through Berlin. Will she realize in time that she needs help? We will see next year.
Seeking help are also the mysterious and questionable patients of divorced psychotherapist Maximilian (August Zirner) in WHAT DOESN’T KILL US (2018), directed by award-winning writer-director Sandra Nettelbeck (MOSTLY MARTHA). There is undertaker Mark (Christian Berkel), who is fed up of dealing with death; Ben (Mark Waschke), who is afraid of his own home, and pilot Fritz (Oliver Broumis), who wonders how he can reconcile his job and his fear of heights. Maximilian's ex-wife Loretta (Barbara Auer), too, is seeing a therapist from time to time. When the playful Sophie (Johanna ter Steege) appears in Maximilian's practice, he re-evaluates his life.
by
Jutta Brendemühl & Lisa Bertram
image: Electric Girl photo courtesy Wüste Film
