Resistance and the persecution of young people during the Third Reich
It took 60 years after the end of WWII, that the Edelweiss Pirates were officially rehabilitated and the remaining former members were honored.
For decades they were branded a criminal anarchist gang and eventually largely forgotten. New research now paints a more nuanced picture of the Edelweiss Pirates, a group of youth, aged 16 – 18, from the Cologne working-class neighborhood Ehrenfeld, who became increasingly radicalized towards the end of the war and did not shy away from political violence.
Climate change, the most pressing problem of the Anthropocene, threatens all life forms on this planet. Is literature able to help us grasp the dimensions of this challenge and maybe even contribute to a shift in attitude?
In the US, a new literary genre has been developing for a while now, so called climate-fiction, in reference to science-fiction, called cli-fi in short. The genre has only recently been gaining in importance in Europe. Probably the biggest contribution to the genre comes from multiple award winning Norwegian author Maja Lunde, whose three novels exploded onto the international book market. Her books have been translated into 40 languages and have sold more than 2.5 million copies. In her climate novels, she illustrates what we could expect, if we don’t change our lifestyle and economic strategies. Even though her future scenarios are frightening, in the end there is always a glimmer of hope – maybe that is one of the reasons for her incredible success.
European water landscapes
The Great Northern Expedition
Almost 300 years ago, at the beginning of the 18th century, European scientists, commissioned by the newly founded Petersburg Academy of Sciences, started on a long and adventurous journey into the Russian Far East – Siberia, a large, unknown, cold land full of secrets. The results of this Great Northern Expedition continue to be of great importance today. The result will be a two part documentary series.
A documentary series
They work in male-dominated jobs, in the coal mining regions of eastern Germany, as excavator operators, machinists, firefighters and train drivers. We accompany female coal miners during their shifts in the lignite fields and experience their daily challenges balancing a demanding job and family life. Against the backdrop of current energy policies and the much-discussed coal phase-out, women in mining find themselves in a constant state of conflict.
About 18% of the approximately 8000 industrial workers still employed today are women. Compared to the mining regions of North Rhine-Westphalia, it is not unusual to find women working in the mining industry in eastern Germany. Since the 1960s, they have conquered what was once a male domain. The former proud statement, “I’m a miner, who is more?”, still holds true today, even for women.
However, the eastern German lignite regions have been undergoing a far-reaching transformation process for the past 30 years. In the area between Brandenburg and Saxony, a total of about 180000 jobs have disappeared and hardly any new ones have been created. When coal is phased out in 2038, the last 8000 industrial workers will leave the open-pit mines. By then, at the very latest, this special work culture of eastern German women working self-confidently with sophisticated machinery in typically male-dominated occupations, will no longer exist.
Reggae, marijuana, wild dreadlocks, their belief in the black Messiah and images of insurrection in the ghettos of Kingston in the 70s, shape the image of Jamaica’s Rastafarians.
That is the cliché. But over 30,000 Jamaican Rastafarians live a mindful life connected to nature. Many have profound knowledge of plants and their healing powers, making them appealing for young Jamaicans and the rest of the world. Rasta Gracie, who is called Empress, because she is so beautiful, is a single mother and has a big dream: She wants to open up a vegetable shop in her small Jamaican village according to the Rastafarian sustainability rules. The film is a sneak peak in to the positive and nature connected world of a community, that has more to offer than just Reggae.
The term “bastard” is used as a derogatory term worldwide – but not amongst the people of Basterland, a region in central Namibia in which the successors of white colonialists and black Nama women live. Their names are Heinrich, Wilhelm, Elfriede, Megan or Lee-Ray. Their facial features and skin tones are different from other Namibians. 35000 people in Central Namibia proudly call themselves “Baster” , because the name reminds them of their origins and their heritage. Their land, called “Basterland” is not frequented by tourists. Not only their facial features and their skin colour are different, but also their traditional clothes are reminders of past times. The Baster have lived and cultivated their traditions for 300 years. But how long will it last?
Power reflected through portrait paintings
For centuries, white artists have predominantly painted powerful white people. Michelle and Barack Obama set a new precedent, when they commissioned two African-American painters to paint their official presidential portraits. Using this break with tradition as a starting point, the film shows the diverse aspects of the international debate surrounding the representation of marginalized groups in art. It does so by looking at paintings by predominantly African-American artists, who are increasingly claiming their place in art history with their outstanding works of art.
The ancient civilization of Mesquito
What secrets are hidden in the jungles of Honduras? Archeologists want to prove the existence of an ancient civilization over 1000 years old. The lost city is located in an area where only very few people are living today. Starting from their base camp in the east of the country, a German-Swiss expedition led by the German Archeological Institute, the university of Zurich and the museum Rietberg (Zurich) will explore uncharted territory with the help of modern technology. They will turn the area upside down scientifically in order to reveal its archeological secrets. They already know that they will be entering an area that was densely populated in the past.
A documentary series
A documentary series about young female basketball players, their love for the sport, their team and the challenges of coming of age
Children and teenagers involved in team sports learn about team spirit early on – something that stays with them their entire lives. Club sports and competitive sports leave a lasting mark on the young players. The documentary series accompanies young female basketball players from Berlin for one season. What does the sport mean to them? And how do they deal with success and failure? The young athletes have their own dreams, worries and day to day challenges. Are they talented enough to play in a competitive team? Does the sport help them discover their own personality and develop their self-confidence? Or will basketball simply remain a nice hobby? The coaches, with their great and often voluntary commitment, their competence and their passion for basketball, are important companions, alongside the players’ parents, during this exciting phase of life between childhood and adulthood. We dive into the fascinating world of these young female athletes, experience their will to perform, friendships, emotions, doubts, success and a sport that requires not only speed, technique and endurance, but also intelligence and team spirit. Not every dream comes true, but the thrill of belonging to a team, giving it your all and sharing victory and defeat with teammates, makes for great experiences and interesting stories.
For as long as art has existed, the female breast has been one of its most important motifs. Hardly any part of the human body receives more attention in the visual arts. The Virgin Mary, martyrs, Amazons – revolution, emancipation, gender discourse. The female breast is a symbol of fertility, maternal care and deep religiosity. It is also a symbol of desire and female vulnerability. Up until today, artists have been creating works that revolve around the emotional and highly socio-political subject of the female breast. How do artists see the female breast?
For centuries, it has been reimagined in ever new ways. A cinematic journey through art history.
telekult Film und Medienproduktion GmbH
Kremmener Str. 6
10435 Berlin
Tel. +49 30 / 44 67 37-6
E-mail: info@telekult.de
telekult Film- und Medienproduktion GmbH
Kremmener Str. 6
10435 Berlin
Tel. +49 30 / 44 67 37-6
E-mail: info@telekult.de