Peter Nestler, Straub and Huillet: Film, Painting, Seasons

.....played at Kino Arsenal.

--ZEIT

(TIME, Peter Nestler, 1992)

--IL RITORNO DE FIGLIO PRODIGO - UMILIATI

(THE RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL SON - HUMILIATION, Straub and Huillet, 2003)

Kino Arsenal's notes:

IL RITORNO DEL FIGLIO PRODIGO – UMILIATI is a continuation of OPERAI, CONTADINI (WORKERS, PEASANTS), the film narrating winter in green summer images. Similar to the relation of SCHWARZE SüNDE (BLACK SIN) to the preceding film TOD DES EMPEDOKLES (THE DEATH OF EMPEDOCLES), an even deeper and darker awareness arises – "from resignation to extreme affirmation" (Jacques Rancière).

The title and content of Peter Nestler's ZEIT (1992) attain a new meaning after VERTEIDIGUNG DER ZEIT (2007) dealing with the work of befriended colleagues. ZEIT consists of "seven Hungarian painters and sculptors presenting their work. They have worked hard all their lives as farmers, in the factory or as textile workers. It picks up on themes of their youth, themes that are very important to them." What UMILIATI and ZEIT also have in common is the preciseness and circuitousness with which they depict the post-socialist (sic) present.

After the "fin" at the end of QUEI LORO INCONTRI (the last five dialogs of Pavese's book Dialogues with Leuco), Jean-Marie Straub shot two new films, each after one of the dialogues: Two men remember a woman – LE GENOU D'ARTEMIDE (2008), two women a man (Odysseus) – LE STREGHE (2007–09). In ITINÉRAIRE DE JEAN BRICARD (2008), the Loire, black-and-white, in winter.

Nestler's TOD UND TEUFEL (2009) again visualizes the abyss one faces when confused emancipation that has become stuck (also when creating images) turns into fascism. The screening of DÜRFEN SIE WIEDERKOMMEN? ÜBER NEOFASCHISTISCHE TENDENZEN IN WESTDEUTSCHLAND (1971) on the photographer and Africa explorer Graf Eric von Rosen will be attended by the socialist political scientist Wolfgang Abendroth, among others. Guests: Peter and Zsóka Nestler. (Stefan Hayn)