Friedrich Schiller & Der Animatograph
Films
Friedrich SchillerDirected by Joachim Burkhardt (2005) | Original German version with English subtitles, colour, 45 min.
Released in 1990 “Friedrich Schiller” is a three-part documentary about Friedrich Schiller (1759-1805), one of the most renowned German playwrights. Directed by Joachim Burkhardt, the film provides unique insight into some of the most pertinent phases of Schiller’s life through the presentation of diverse historic documents, historical simulations of quotidian scenes in his life and the depiction of short scenes from his plays
Der Animatograph
Directed by Christoph Schlingensief (2005) | Original German version with English subtitles, colour, 49 min.
The film and opera director Christoph Schlingensief (1960-2010) shaped German cultural and political discourse over two decades. With his collection of episodes entitled “Der Animatograph”, Schlingensief creates an innovative platform for the presentation of quotidian life with the help of sound, image and language.
As a conglomerate of cinema, theatre, performance, instillation, painting and opera, the episodes depict the attempt of different cultures and civilizations to address questions of religion, politics, history and family. Schlingensief’s episodes confront the different aspects of human nature and bring together European and African traditions, expounding humanity’s relationship with rituals, ghosts, gods and heroes.