Anmaßung

Anamnesis
“What do we see when we can’t see something?” This is the question that Chris Wright, one of the two directors, poses off-screen at the beginning. It’s a big question and one that takes him to the heart of a key dilemma in documentary filmmaking.
What we don’t see is the face of the most important figure in the film, Stefan S., who is serving a life sentence in a Brandenburg jail. He can leave the prison from time to time; release on parole is also a possibility, but the weight of the guilt hangs heavy. Stefan S. killed a female colleague of his after stalking her. This generates unease. Who wants to deal with a criminal? Who wants to even see him?
Filmmakers Chris Wright and Stefan Kolbe have never been ones to separate off the difficult facets of human existence. They keep looking, even as Stefan S. withdraws. They substitute the absence of the perpetrator’s face by allowing a puppet and two puppeteers to take the stage, supplemented by masks, reflections and projections. The film is held together by the motif of threads and strings, and the voiceover has the courage to express doubts about the entire endeavour.
by Stefan Kolbe, Chris Wright
with Nadia Ihjeij, Josephine Hock
Germany 2021 German 111’ Colour

Part of the Berlinale Summer Special

With

  • Nadia Ihjeij
  • Josephine Hock

Crew

Written and Directed by Stefan Kolbe, Chris Wright
Cinematography Stefan Kolbe
Editing Chris Wright
Music Johannes Winde
Sound Chris Wright
Production Manager Tina Börner
Producer Heino Deckert
Executive Producer Heino Deckert

Produced by

Ma.ja.de. Filmproduktion

http://majade.de http://majade.de

Chris Wright

Born in 1972 in Radcliffe, UK. He studied film editing and works as an editor and documentary filmmaker, usually in collaboration with Stefan Kolbe.

Filmography

1999 Nernich – Nirgends nichts (Nernich – Nowhere Nothing); co-directed by Stefan Kolbe, 76 min. 2003 Technik des Glücks (The Progress of Happiness); co-directed by Stefan Kolbe, 68 min. 2006 Das Block (The Block); co-directed by Stefan Kolbe, 75 min. 2010 Auf dem Wachstumspfad (The Disciple); co-directed by Stefan Kolbe, 29 min. · Kleinstheim (The Home); co-directed by Stefan Kolbe, 87 min. 2014 Pfarrer (Priests); co-directed by Stefan Kolbe, 90 min. 2016 Mutterglück (Mother's Joy); co-directed by Stefan Kolbe, 40 min.

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2021

Stefan Kolbe

Born in 1972 in Halle an der Saale, East Germany. He has a degree in cinematography and has made numerous documentaries since 1997, most of them in collaboration with Chris Wright.

Filmography

1997 Gurke & Brot (Bread & Pickle); co-directed by Robert Jäger, 42 min. 1999 Nernich – Nirgends nichts (Nernich – Nowhere Nothing); co-directed by Chris Wright, 76 min. 2003 Technik des Glücks (The Progress of Happiness); co-directed by Chris Wright, 68 min. 2006 Das Block (The Block); co-directed by Chris Wright, 75 min 2010 Auf dem Wachstumspfad (The Disciple); co-directed by Chris Wright, 29 min · Kleinstheim (The Home); co-directed by Chris Wright, 87 min 2014 Pfarrer (Priests); co-directed by Chris Wright, 90 min 2016 Mutterglück (Mother's Joy); co-directed by Chris Wright, 40 min

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2021