Monday, May 12, 2008
Germany, Pale Mother: A film from 1980
Germany, Pale Mother is a 1980 film directed by Helma Sanders-Brahms. I have heard it referred to in listings of films of the German New Wave of the seventies and eighties, but had no idea what kind of a work of stark beauty awaited. It is possible that it got overwhelmed in the long shadows cast by Fassbinder, Wenders, Schlondorff. Unfortunately, its subject matter will always put it in some kind of comparable zone with Fassbinder's Marriage of Maria Braun.
But Maria is a manipulative and for most not likeable heroine elevated by Fassbinder's overwrought (I still like it though) melodramatic style and festishes. The story of Lena is the story of ordinary folks told in a manner that reveals. For instance, after an air raid we see a wide shot with Lena's toddler is in the foreground and Lena is vomitting on a pile of rubble from the night's allied bombing attack. She refuses the aid of an older man. It is only then we realize that this was her home. The response is to pick up the child and go find the rich relations in Berlin after finding as much silverware she can.
This is a film with beautiful well controlled mise en scene styled long takes that reveal and take the viewer so often to another place or perspective. This style was probably due, in part, because of budget, but for this intimate story of a German citizen's challenges and transformations from the late thirties to the early fifties, it fits quite well.
Germany, Pale Mother deals with post traumatic stress of the experience both from direct battle and by citizenry surviving of World War II. It is also the story of the filmmaker's childhood. The images of Lena and daughter Anna (played by Sanders-Brahm's daughter in the story of her Grossmutter und Mutti) are what I will carry with me: through the snow to find the relations who have moved from Berlin to country sanctuary, through the rubble of buildings. But the most profound moment for me came when, after being attacked by American soldiers, Lena explains in measured tones of a seasoned survivor that in war the women and riches belong to the victor.
The film is titled for and begins with Brecht's poem, which I believe in the film is credited as being written in 1931. There are levels to this film that could be studied for years, and many of those doors for meaning could be tapped through the Brecht poem which concludes with:
O Germany, pale mother!
How have your sons arrayed you
That you sit among the peoples
A thing of scorn and fear!
posted by well-executed buffet at 9:19 AM
Comments:
Post a Comment