A majestic journey into the world of one of the biggest contemporary artists: Anselm Kiefer as seen by Wim Wenders
The sound of time followed Anselm Kiefer from birth: he was born in a small German town, two months before the end of World War II, in a shelter where his family were hiding from the Allied bombings. He listened in to the hum of the history throughout his life and responded to it with monumental paintings and installations that captured Germany’s complex relationship with its past. His compatriot and contemporary Wim Wenders spent almost three years by his side to create an ambitious film-painting that presents the key moments of Kiefer’s biography and philosophy in a non-linear way.
The camera glides over an abandoned factory in the south of France, which Kiefer turned into a total artwork; then follows the artist, like a medieval alchemist, pouring molten metal and covering a canvas the size of a house in thick layers of paint. Shots are arranged in dreamlike episodes based on Kiefer’s memories. Using 3D-filming and clever angles, Wenders creates a sensation of physical presence next to Kiefer’s works, allowing viewers to feel their weight and texture. Even a visit to his studio could not compare to the stunning effect. But, more importantly, the film presents the dialogue between past and present, personal memory and history, suggested by the artist.
The film will be screened in English and German with Russian subtitles.
anselm
director: wim wenders
germany, 2023. 93 min.
18+
