kultur g e r m a n c u l t u r a l vergnügen events fall 2 0 1 0 CALENDAR OF EVENTS FALL 2010 -- Welcome to the Fall 2010 edition of our German cultural events calendar, Kultur- vergnügen (cultural enjoyment). We are happy to be part of Washington’s dy- namic, diverse arts scene, and invite you to take part in our cultural exchange and dialogue. This fall is a special time in Germany’s history – in October we celebrate twenty years of German unity. The artistic expression that occurred in Germany during its division and following its reunification is showcased in the Goethe-Institut’s film series Made in West/East Germany and in Edison Place Gallery’s Break- through! exhibition. WELCOME Coincidentally, the Goethe-Institut Washington opened its doors for the first time twenty years ago this fall. The institute commemorates this milestone with several events, includ- ing a design competition to unify and freshen the Institute’s façade. Modern-day Germany is presented through events such as the film series Afrodeutsche: Afro-Germans in Film and discussions of green living and design. Our FotoGaler- ie, home to contemporary German photography, features two distinct shows this season, both opening with the artists. Whether you speak German well or are just beginning, the Goethe-Institut has a lan- guage course at your level. For further practice, take part in the monthly Deutsch am Mittag. Please consider joining Friends of the Goethe-Institut to support our important work. The German Embassy welcomes the music groups The Arirang Quintet and the Young Westphalian Baroque Ensemble to its auditorium this fall. A plethora of additional Ger- man music events takes place around the city. A stunning exhibition, German Drawings from the Wolfgang Ratjen Collection, 1580 to 1900, continues through the fall at the National Gallery of Art. Don’t miss this extraordinary show! The 200th anniversary of composer Robert Schumann’s birth is commemorated during a four-day conference at the University of Maryland. An array of seasonal events with a German flair is slated for the fall and winter. Visit www.goethe.de/washington and www.germany.info/dcevents for updates and addi- tional offerings. Viel Vergnügen! Enjoy! Ulrich Braess, Dr. Bertram von Moltke Director, Goethe-Institut Washington Head, Cultural Department, German Embassy CALENDAR OF EVENTS FALL 2010 Goethe-Institut 4 - 21 German Embassy 24 - 30 Events at a Glance 22 - 23 Goethe-Institut Events Films 2010 Revenants © Oskar Schmidt Afrodeutsche: Afro-Germans in Film 4 – 5 Deutschland eilig Vaterland 6 Made in West/East Germany 7 – 9 Film Festivals 10 FALL Exhibitions Breakthrough! 20 Years After German Unification 11 Revenants: Photographs by Oskar Schmidt 12 Documentary Photography 07/08: Wüstenrot Foundation Award Winners 13 Axe of Wandsbek © DEFA Film Library Discussions Table of Contents Table Architecture Week: SuperGreen 14 Frank Rödel,Bald Eagle II, 2008 (Detail) Green Living Series 14 Cultural Life: A European-American Dialogue 15 Hear Now! 15 German-American Heritage Walking Tours 16 Reading and Book Presentation The Poet’s Cookbook 17 Language Deutsch am Mittag 18 Kids Euro Festival 18 Twenty Years Goethe-Institut Washington 19 American Goethe Society 20 German Embassy Events Music 24 – 26 Violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter © picture-alliance/dpa Lectures 26 – 27 Kirill Golovchenko, Film 27 from the series The Ukraini- an Breakthrough, 2008, pig- Exhibitions 28 ment prints. Special Events 29 – 30 Language Classes 21, 32 Friends of the Goethe-Institut 33 Electronic Newsletter 40 Addresses 41 About Us 43 Cover: Black on White © Eyeworks TV CALENDAR OF EVENTS FALL 2010 Leroy ©Filmportal FILM SERIES n September 13 – October 25, 2010 Goethe-Institut, GoetheForum Afrodeutsche: Afro-Germans in Film 500,000 Germans have African or African-American roots and generally refer to themselves as Afro- deutsche (Afro-Germans). They are an often-overlooked minority in today’s Germany and still struggle to be accepted as German by a society that most often equates being German with being 100% Cau- casian. The New Black Movement and accompanying black organizations were established in both Germanies in the early 1980s. These organizations work to give black Germans a voice and to rediscover and tell the rich history of these people. Where did they come from? They can be the children or grandchildren of Africans who emigrated from former German colonies in the early 20th century. Or exchange students and workers who came to the former East Germany from then-communist countries such as Mozambique. Others are the offspring of African-American soldiers in Germany during the post-World War II occupation and the Cold War. Or they can simply be immigrants from Africa and their descendants. This series of films by and about Afro-Germans reflects issues from different perspectives and de- cades. n Monday, September 13, 6:30 pm Leroy Eva fall in love. But Eva’s father is a politician in Germany, 2007, 89 min., DVD, Director: Armin Völck- an extreme right-winged party, and her brothers ers, Cast: Alain Morel, Anna Hausburg, Constantin von are known neo-Nazis. Leroy finds himself stuck in Jascheroff, Afrob, Günther Kaufmann, Eva Mannschott an identity crisis as he attempts to become friends with the family. Introduction by Yvonne Poser, Associate Professor German, World Born in 1963, Armin Völckers grew up in Brazil. Languages and Cultures, Howard University Leroy, the winner of a 2008 German Film Prize, is Völckers’ feature film debut, expanding upon the 17-year-old Leroy, an Afro-German teenager, en- same theme which he covered in the short movie joys reading Goethe and playing cello. He and Leroy Cleans Up (Leroy räumt auf, 2005). CALENDAR OF EVENTS FALL 2010 4 n Monday, September 20, 6:30 pm Valley of the Innocent© teamWorx Valley of the Innocent (Tal der Ahnungslosen) Germany, 2003, 85 min., BETACam SP, Director: Branwen Okpako, Cast: Nisma Cherrat, Angelica Domröse, Kirsten Block, Florian Panzer Introduction by Janice Mitchell, Professor of German and Intercultural and International Education, Gallaudet University Afro-German police inspector Eva Meyer is trans- ferred from her department in Frankfurt am Main to her home town of Dresden – a place she has been avoiding for 22 years. Having grown up in several East German orphanages, Eva never met In this documentary, German writer and undercov- her parents. She begins searching for her roots and er journalist Günter Wallraff took on the fictional finds the truth in a Stasi file. identity of Kwami Ogonno, a black man from So- Branwen Okpako (b. 1969 in Lagos, Nigeria) has malia, to expose latent and explicit racism within produced several award-winning short films. Valley German society. The film led to a wide controver- of the Innocent is Okpako’s first feature film. sy among black and white Germans. Black on White is a typical Wallraff-style documen- tary. Günter Wallraff created a fictitious person n Monday, September 27, 6:30 pm in order to highlight social injustices and how so- Toxi ciety functions. His earlier projects included an ex- posé of the German tabloid Bild Zeitung. He has Germany, 1952, 88 min., 35mm, Director: Robert A. also authored a book about suspect research meth- Stemmle, Cast: Elfie Fiegert, Paul Bildt, Johanna Hofer, ods and severe journalistic lapses. Wallraff has of- Ingeborg Körner ten come under fire for his methods. Introduction by Katrin Sieg, Associate Professor of German, Georgetown University n Monday, October 25, 6:30 pm After World War II, five-year-old Toxi – an Afro- German child whose father was part of the Occu- Return to Go! (Zurück auf Los!) pation forces – is taken in by her grandparents. Germany, 2000, 90 min., 35mm, Director: Pierre Friends and relatives are full of resentment and Sanoussi-Bliss, Cast: Pierre Sanoussi-Bliss, Matthias prejudice, but nobody can resist the charming lit- Freihof, Dieter Bach, Bart Klein tle girl who is waiting for her father. Introduction by Katrin Sieg, Associate Robert A. Stemmle (b. 1903) began his career as Professor of German, Georgetown University a teacher, but soon moved to Berlin and co-found- Afro-German bohemian Sam grew up in East Ber- ed the famous cabaret Die Katakombe. He wrote lin during the 1970s and 80s. In reunified Germa- stage plays that were performed at the legendary ny, the 30-year-old’s attempt to make money by re- Volksbühne Berlin. In his satirical comedies he of- cording old East German hits fails, and he is forced ten criticizes social grievances. to live on welfare. A tragicomic take on love, HIV, friendship, death, disability and racism with an ex- n Monday, October 18, 6:30 pm traordinary lightness. Despite all the setbacks, life goes on in Return to Go! Black on White Pierre Sanoussi-Bliss has held the leading role in (Günter Wallraff: Schwarz auf Weiß) several award-winning theater and TV productions. Germany, 2009, 82 min., DigiBeta, Directors: Pagonis Return to Go! appeared at the Berlinale (the Inter- Pagonakis, Susanne Jäger, Cast: Günter Wallraff national Berlin Film Festival) in 2000, and at more Introduction by Katrin Sieg, Associate than 60 other international festivals. Professor of German, Georgetown University Tickets see page 10 5 CALENDAR OF EVENTS FALL 2010 This year, Germany celebrates the 20th anniversary of its reunification. The documentary Deutschland eilig Vaterland is dedicated to the period between the fall of the Berlin Wall and the official reunification on October 3, 1990. n Tuesday, October 5, 6:30 pm Goethe-Institut, GoetheForum Deutschland eilig Vaterland Germany, 2010, 60 min., DVD, Directors: Carl-Ludwig Paeschke, Uli Weidenbach This documentary focuses on the 329 days between the fall of the Berlin Wall and the 3rd of October, 1990. It juxtaposes interviews with the most important figures in the political process from both Ger- manies and the former Allied powers with accounts of everyday citizens who found themselves at least as surprised by the fall of the Wall as the politicians themselves.