Filmmaker in person!

“Watching her films is like traveling through an undiscovered country of marvels, a journey alternately dazzling, infuriating, hilarious, and rewarding.”—Leslie Camhi, Village Voice

“Eccentrics are our last heroes, and in our times it is so difficult to be an eccentric.”—Ulrike Ottinger (1989)

Iconoclastic German filmmaker Ulrike Ottinger is known for her distinctive approach to narrative and visual storytelling, often blending surrealism, feminism, and political critique in her genre-defying works. Her films, which she usually writes, shoots, produces, and production designs herself, explore themes of identity, gender, and cultural displacement, frequently blurring the lines between documentary and fiction for a truly singular voice in the history of independent filmmaking. Once claiming that “we [meaning herself, Jean Genet, and Rainer Werner Fassbinder] make the originals, other people make the wallpaper,” Ottinger’s work is marked by its vivid imagery and use of bold, stylized visuals that reflect a deep interest in cultural representation and the interrogation of myth. Notable works like Paris Calligrammes (2020), an autobiographical reflection on the artistic and intellectual climate of 1960s Paris, and Freak Orlando (1981)—a feminist reimagining of Tod Browning’s Freaks (1932)—exemplify her ability to create immersive, visually arresting worlds that challenge conventional narratives. Ottinger’s films often feature strong, complex female protagonists navigating oppressive societal structures, positioning her as an important figure in both European cinema and the broader feminist filmmaking movement that came to life in the 1970s.

Ottinger will join four screenings at the Academy Museum to discuss her trajectory as an artist, her approach to crafting images, and her visionary eye for color and mise-en-scène.

Programmed and notes by K.J. Relth-Miller.

Support for “Ulrike Ottinger: Cinema Artist, Cinema Rebel” provided in part by the German Film Office.

Film Program

September 25, 7:30pm
Ticket of No Return
(West Germany, 1979, 108 min.)
In person: Ulrike Ottinger

September 27, 7:30pm
Freak Orlando
(West Germany, 1981, 126 min.)
In person: Ulrike Ottinger

September 28, 6:30pm
Dorian Gray in the Mirror of the Yellow Press
(West Germany, 1985, 150 min.)
In person: Ulrike Ottinger

September 29, 7:30pm
Paris Calligrammes
(Germany, 2020, 129 min.)
In person: Ulrike Ottinger

October 4, 2:30pm
Joan of Arc of Mongolia
(West Germany, 1989, 165 min.)