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Dorian Gray im Spiegel der Boulevardpresse

Dorian Gray in the Mirror of the Yellow Press
Retrospective 2019
© Ulrike Ottinger
Frau Dr Mabuse, boss of an international media conglomerate, needs to boost circulation. She has decided to create an artificial character who will fulfil all her readers’ dreams, only to then destroy him before their very eyes. She chooses Dorian Gray. Dr Mabuse takes the rich, narcissistic dandy to the opera, where he falls in love with singer Andamana. He also cuts a dashing figure at the Press Ball, and on a journey through the underworld, with the coverage all the while earning Dr Mabuse tidy profits. But then this modern homunculus turns on his creator … Unlike her androgynous film hero, Ulrike Ottinger was definitely in attendance when “subversive aesthetics” was on the curriculum. Her futuristic media satire combines avant-garde art and triviality, underground and world cultures, video techniques and voodoo, all into a kind of world theatre, where all the hardened expectations of social and sex roles are thwarted with relish. In 1984, director Ottinger said, “for me, an emancipated society would mean that nobody would be subjected to expectations of their roles any more. Then there would be no more defamation of minorities”.
by Ulrike Ottinger
with Veruschka von Lehndorff, Delphine Seyrig, Tabea Blumenschein, Toyo Tanaka, Irm Hermann, Magdalena Montezuma Federal Republic of Germany 1984 German, French 151’ Colour Rating R12

With

  • Veruschka von Lehndorff
  • Delphine Seyrig
  • Tabea Blumenschein
  • Toyo Tanaka
  • Irm Hermann
  • Magdalena Montezuma

Crew

Written and Directed by Ulrike Ottinger
Cinematography Ulrike Ottinger
Editing Eva Schlensag
Music Peer Raben
Sound Margit Eschenbach
Art Director Ulrike Ottinger
Costumes Gisela Storch
Assistant Director Eva Ebner
Producer Ulrike Ottinger
Commissioning Editor Hans Kwiet, Joachim von Mengershausen

Additional information

DCP: Arsenal – Institut für Film und Videokunst e.V., Berlin

Ulrike Ottinger

© Jelka von Langen

Born in Konstanz, Germany in 1942. She worked as a painter and photographer in Paris from 1962–1968. She founded the Visuell film club in Konstanz in 1969, and led it until 1972; she also founded galeriepress, an art gallery and press. She has lived in Berlin since 1973. Alongside her film work she also produces operas and theatre and is present on the international art scene with photo exhibitions.

Filmography (selection)

1973 Laokoon & Söhne. Die Verwandlungsgeschichte der Esmeralda del Rio (Laokoon & Sons. The Transformation of Esmeralda del Rio) · Berlinfieber – Wolf Vostell (Berlinfever – Wolf Vostell) 1975 Die Betörung der Blauen Matrosen (The Enchantment of the Blue Sailors) 1977 Madame X – Eine absolute Herrscherin (Madame X – An Absolute Ruler) · Madame X – Eine absolute Herrscherin (Madame X – An Absolute Ruler) 1979 Bildnis einer Trinkerin – Aller jamais retour (Ticket of No Return) · Bildnis einer Trinkerin – Aller jamais retour (Ticket of No Return) 1981 Freak Orlando. Kleines Welttheater in fünf Episoden (Freak Orlando) · Freak Orlando. Kleines Welttheater in fünf Episoden (Freak Orlando) 1984 Dorian Gray im Spiegel der Boulevardpresse (Dorian Gray in the Mirror of the Yellow Press) · Dorian Gray im Spiegel der Boulevardpresse (Dorian Gray in the Mirror of the Yellow Press) 1985 China. Die Künste – Der Alltag (China. The Arts – The People) · China. Die Künste – Der Alltag (China. The Arts – The People) 1986 Superbia 1987 Usinimage; short film · Usinimage 1989 Johanna d'Arc of Mongolia · Johanna d'Arc of Mongolia 1990 Countdown · Countdown 1992 Taiga. Eine Reise ins nördliche Land der Mongolen (Taiga. A Journey to Northern Mongolia) · Taiga. Eine Reise ins nördliche Land der Mongolen (Taiga. A Journey to Northern Mongolia) 1997 Exil Shanghai (Exile Shanghai) · Exil Shanghai (Exile Shanghai) 2002 Südostpassage (Southeast Passage) · Südostpassage (Southeast Passage) 2004 12 Stühle (12 Chairs) · 12 Stühle (12 Chairs) 2007 Prater · Prater 2008 Die Koreanische Hochzeitstruhe (The Korean Wedding Chest) · Die Koreanische Hochzeitstruhe (The Korean Wedding Chest) 2011 Unter Schnee (Under Snow) · Unter Schnee (Under Snow) 2016 Chamissos Schatten (Chamisso’s Shadow) · Chamissos Schatten (Chamisso’s Shadow) 2019 Paris Calligrammes

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2020