Film
WORLD THROUGH A LENS:
MICHAEL BALLHAUS REMEMBERED

Mi, 03.05.2017 –
Fr, 12.05.2017
Egyptian Theatre

Presented with the support of the Goethe-Institut

It may have been preordained that Michael Ballhaus would make his livelihood in the film business; both of his parents were actors, and director Max Ophüls was a family friend (who cast the young man as an extra in his final film). But Ballhaus’ future lay behind the camera rather than in front of it, and his nearly 50-year career as a cinematographer earned three Oscar nominations and teamed him with some of the greatest filmmakers in recent history.

That career began in 1971 in Ballhaus’ native Germany, where he became one of Rainer Werner Fassbinder’s most trusted collaborators. The two teamed more than a dozen times, including television work (the epic miniseries WORLD ON A WIRE) and some of Fassbinder’s most acclaimed features (THE BITTER TEARS OF PETRA VON KANT, THE MARRIAGE OF MARIA BRAUN). “He always cracked the whip to be fast and not to spend too much time,” noted Ballhaus of the temperamental director. “So I learned to be fast and still tried to be good. That was a big help later when I started shooting in the States.”

As the cinematographer shifted his focus to Hollywood films in the early 1980s, respect for his skills and calm under fire grew quickly, as did demand for his services. James L. Brooks, Frank Oz, Mike Nichols, Robert Redford and Wolfgang Petersen were all repeat customers. But after Fassbinder, the director most closely associated with Ballhaus was Martin Scorsese. “It was Michael who really gave me back my sense of excitement in making movies,” the director said of his old friend. "If I asked him for something difficult, he would approach it with enthusiasm: He never told me we couldn’t do something, and he loved to be challenged.” The seven films they made together include AFTER HOURS, THE COLOR OF MONEY, Best Picture winner THE DEPARTED and GOODFELLAS, the acclaimed crime drama for which Ballhaus’ Copacabana nightclub tracking shot remains the stuff of legend.

Source: American Cinematheque: Series compiled by Grant Moninger. Program notes by John Hagelston.
  

 
 FILMS SCREENING AT THE AERO THEATRE:

Wednesday, May 3 – 7:30 PM
THE DEPARTED
2006, Warner Bros., 151 min, USA/Hong Kong, Director: Martin Scorsese. In English.

Friday, May 5 – 7:30 PM 
Double Feature: AFTER HOURS | THE COLOR OF MONEY                                                  

After Hours
1985, Warner Bros., 97 min., USA,  Director: Martin Scorsese. In English.

The Color of Money 
1986, Buena Vista Pictures, 119 min, USA, Director: Martin Scorsese. In English.
 
Saturday, May 6 – 7:30 PM  
Double Feature: THE BITTER TEARS OF PETRA VON KANT  + BEWARE OF A HOLY WHORE
             
The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant (Die Bitteren Tränen der Petra von Kant)
1972, Janus Films, 124 min, Germany, Director: Rainer Werner Fassbinder. In German with English Subtitles

Beware of a Holy Whore (Warnung vor einer heiligen Nutte)
1971, Janus Films, 103 min., Germany, Director: Rainer Werner Fassbinder. In German with English Subtitles.

 
Sunday, May 7 – 7:30 PM 
WORLD ON A WIRE (WELT AM DRAHT)                                             
1973, Janus Films, 212 min, Germany, Director: Rainer Werner Fassbinder. In German with English Subtitles. 

 
FILMS SCREENING AT THE EGYPTIAN THEATRE:

Friday, May 12 – 7:30 PM    
BRAM STOKER'S DRACULA
25th Anniversary! 1992, Sony Repertory, 128 min. Director: Francis Ford Coppola. In English
 
Saturday, May 13 – 7:30 PM                                          
GOODFELLAS
1990, Warner Bros., 146 min. Director: Martin Scorsese. In English.
 
For tickets, extensive program details, and a complete screening schedule for the series, please  visit please visit the series’ page on the American Cinematheque website:
WORLD THROUGH A LENS: MICHAEL BALLHAUS REMEMBERED


LOCATIONS:

Egyptian Theatre
6712 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90028

Aero Theatre
1328 Montana Avenue
Santa Monica, CA 90403