Clothing and Culture: The Dirndl
In our film about the dirndl, we are particularly interested in the individual and his or her life history. We visit a dairymaid in traditional tracht greeting the rising sun in the early morning; we visit a embroideress bent patiently over her fabric, creating the Tree of Life stitch by stitch; we visit one of the “Goldhaubenfrauen† as she dresses for church services, pinning her golden bonnet in her hair - opulent, touching images which reveal the sheer beauty of the Bavarian and Austrian countryside, whose people are joined to their traditional tracht with very special affection. Sensitive, intimate images bring us close to these people. We show scenic moments when their feelings for their traditional dress becomes palpable, as they describe how close their homes, their families, and they are histories lies to their hearts. Extended views of handicraft details and the exercise of craft skills immerse viewers in the visually powerful world of traditional tracht. On the one hand, we experience the tranquil, concentrated pace of traditional life, on the other, the businesslike and fashion conscious tempo that prevails in the Munich studio of designer Lola Paltinger and at the Oktoberfest. The latter sequences are edited in a more dynamic fashion. Both narrative strands complement and contrast with one another. Gexi Tostmann is our constant companion, accompanying us as we observe the manufacture of dirndls, or as we watch new fabrics being examined, or learn to appreciate the treasures of the past contained in her archive. The central foci for the Tostmanns are preparations for the Jägerball (Hunters Ball) and the incomparable atmosphere of the evening itself. This documentary – so rich in emotional stories and visually powerful scenes and images – acquaints us with individuals whose enthusiasm is as irresistible as it is infectious.
Global Screen GmbH
Sonnenstraße 21
80331 München
sales@united-docs.com
phone: +49 89 2441295 500
fax: +49 89 2441295 520
mail: info@globalscreen.de
Screenplay/Direction
Nicola Graef
Produced:
2009,
ZDF/arte
45 min.
back to selection