The Films Of Margarethe von Trotta
Picture: C
Sound: C* Extras: D Films: B-
(*Sheer Madness gets a C+ for Sound.)
Though she began as an actress in the films of Rainer
Werner Fassbinder, Margarethe von Trotta turned around and decided to become a
director herself and the result was another distinctive voice in the New German
Cinema of the time. Three of the most
regarded of her films have finally been issued by Water Bearer on DVD and they
are all interesting works about female identity and the emotional female
interior.
The Second Awakening Of Christine Klages (1978)
begins with the title character and a friend deciding to rob a bank. In one moment, a bank teller (Katharina
Thalbach as Lena Seidlhofer) and her make eye contact. It lasts for a while. It is unexpected. Then Christine and her friend spend the film trying to keep the
money and stay away from the authorities trying to hunt them down. Though Christine was disguised, Lena knows
who she is and how this unsettled aspect of the robbery plays into the story is
key in understanding more than just a simple robbery.
Sisters Or The Balance Of Happiness (1979)
is a fascinating story of two sisters who live together, love each other and
how they intend to deal with their lives at a mid-life turning point. Like the previous film, it deals with the
female human psyche like nothing since Ingmar Bergman’s films, though from much
more of a woman’s point of view. Though
not as successful as she might have hoped for, von Trotta (who also co-wrote
the film) is more successful than not in this intimate look at these women and
their bond. That lounge singer has got
to go, though.
Sheer Madness (1983) deals with two women who
befriend each other having opposite lives, one is an artist (unstable living),
while the other is a college professor (stable living). However, both have also had bad experiences
with men, which brings them together even more closely. This is then shaken when Franz (Peter
Striebeck) starts to come into the relationship. Suicide, 19th Century philosophy and other
unpredictable factors make this as intriguing as the previous films.
Though the result sin each are smart, mature, intelligent
and impressive, the sum of the films never add up to being as impressive as the
better parts. These are films that
takes risks and are about people, something we do not see enough, but they are
possibly too self-contained to go as far as one wish they would or should. Otherwise, they are required viewing for
anyone interested in German Cinema or women filmmakers who have made their
mark.
The 1.33 X 1 image on Klages and 1.66 X 1 image on
the latter two DVDs have burned in subtitles and show their age. Cinematographer Frank Rath shot the first
two films, while the amazing Michael Ballhaus shot the last film. They all are fine looking films, though
these transfers are from old, analog masters and do not do justice to the
work. However, they get better as they
go along, but all will need digital HD updating and restoration down the line. The Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono on all three
films has background noise and hiss, though it is least problematic on Madness. There are no extras, but fans of von Trotta
and German Cinema will be happy for these films to finally come to DVD. They are still better than VHS.
- Nicholas Sheffo
