Tuesday, Feb 10 8:30 PM
Kuhle Wampe
or, To Whom Does the World Belong?
Directed by Slatan Dudow, screenplay by Bertolt Brecht and Ernst Ottwald, music by Hanns Eisler
Although there has been scholarly controversy over whether Brecht's contribution to this film has been exaggerated to the detriment of cowriter Ottwald, Brecht's birthday and these disturbed economic times seem as good a reason as any to show this fine example of Soviet-inspired German activist filmmaking from the time just prior to the ultimate rise of Nazism.
The title refers to a lakeside park outside of Berlin which becomes an impromptu village of the unemployed and homeless. Although clearly a propaganda film designed to show socialism as the only hope for a better world, Kuhle Wampe is also beautifully constructed and photographed and ultimately heartbreaking, knowing that the final destination of its idealistic youth was the concentration camp.
Kuhle Wampe was banned almost immediately upon its release in 1932. An account by Brecht of one encounter the filmmakers had with the official censor may be found at http://www.ejcampfield.com/contribution.html. The print being shown tonight has also been censored, not for political content but for sex. During a scene at the Workers Sports Club offices, there is a brief (8 frame) flash of a wall poster referring to Freikörperkultur (nudism). A scan of one of these frames is on the back of this program.
Kuhle Wampe is in German with English subtitles.
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Next Show :Tuesday, Feb 17, 2009 8:30 PM @ DOMY Books 1709 Westheimer. Enter either through DOMY or Brasil.
A few films about animals in the hands of humans, just in time for the livestock show.
Brain Lesions and the Behavior of Rats Psychological Cinema Register of The Pennsylvania State College Silent 1930s 12 min : Experiments by Norman R F Maier, Univ. of Michigan 1935. Demonstrates scientifically that sticking sharp objects in rats' brains makes the rats kinda dumb.
Milk in the Computer Age Dairy Council Inc of Thornton Co & the Colorado Milk Marketing Board 1982 13 min : Nerd girl thinks class trip to the dairy farm is a snore, but when she sees what a big role automation has she changes her tune. And everything is clean, clean, CLEAN!
Hush, Hoggies, Hush! Tom Johnson's Praying Pigs Center for Southern Folklore 1978 5 min : When you're poor as dirt and time lays heavy on your hands, what better way to spend it than teaching the livestock to respect the Lord
Squeak the Squirrel Churchill 10min : Clever little Squeak! He knows how to solve all sorts of puzzles, as long as there's a nice treat at the end.
Eggs to Market 12 min : Lots and lots of great assembly line porn. The egg white separator is a thing of beauty.
Meat and Meat Packing IFB 1957 11min : From the pasture to our table via the meat packing plant, with nary an immigrant face in sight. If you're squeamish about entrails you might want to skip this one.