One year after his death, the film arrives in cinemas
20.05.2008
Bild
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Portrait of a Fighter
by G. ALTENHOFEN
Düsseldorf – the first anniversary of the death of Jörg Immendorff († 61) falls on May 28. Arriving in cinemas is a striking documentary film on this painter of genius.
For nine years, the artist suffered from the untreatable nervous system disease ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). Toward the end, his entire body was paralyzed.
Documentary filmmaker Nicola Graef (37, “Lona Media†) accompanied the terminally ill painter with her camera during his last two years of his life.
Title I. IMMENDORFF. An emotional portrait of a fighter. Nicola Graef has edited 98 minutes of film from 100 hours of material.
The filmmaker: “In the beginning, we observed his classes at the academy. He was a passionate teacher who loved his students. When he became too weak to leave the studio, students come to him there. As late as 6 months before his death.†
Immendorff fell into a coma as a result of respiratory paralysis.
The filmmaker: “Shortly after the tracheotomy through which he received artificial respiration, he fought on, his will unbroken. He believed in himself with an archaic and primordial force, believed in his own future. He never cried. On the contrary, when he was together with his family, he radiated strength, optimism. When his little daughter was with him, he became gentle, tender, doting.†
Toward the end, he lived exclusively in the studio, producing many new works with the help of assistants, among them his brilliant portrait of former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder.
Nicola Graef: “No matter how Immendorff was doing, one thing was always clear: in the studio, he was in charge. There, it was exclusively a question of art.†
He speaks in the film about loneliness and about his darker moments: “The fact that he can no longer tie his shoes, can no longer water the flowers.†
This film portrait opens in German cinemas Thursday.
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