Films by Gaby Kull-Neujahr

Germany 2016, 73 min
by Gudrun Gruber

The US-Mexican border area, Arizona. The Frontier or La Frontera has always been seen as a symbol of freedom on the horizon of the American West and has always been subject to burgeoninng territorial battles. The hilly landscape of the Sonora Desert has not come to rest even today. Every year, the remains of hundreds of migrants are salvaged between the cactus forests and steppes. The advancement of new technology in border security has its effects far inland, and the people live between surveillance systems, fear of terrorism, and the already over 1,100 kilometer long borderfence – and the construction continues. The tense situation in the border area has long divided the inhabitants into two camps: the one demands more border security, the other more humanitary help.But what is the right direction? And does more security technology actually bring more security – or more deaths? This documentary film portrays life on the geographic edge of the United States, from the perspective of the desert dwellers. It accompanies locals, NGOs and paramilitaries on their ways through the border area and offers insight into the world’s largest trade fair for border security technology and industry, the Border Security Expo in Phoenix, Arizona. (HOF)

Germany 2012, 100 min
by Jan Schmidt-Garré

Modern yoga, that is, the form practised daily by tens of millions of people around the world, goes back directly to the god Shiva according to Indian tradition. At the same time, however, modern yoga originated in the early twentieth century, a creation of Indian savant T. Krishnamacharya (1888-1989). That story is far less known and what this film is all about. Krishnamacharya’s life and teachings are seen through the eyes of the director Jan Schmidt-Garre on his search for authentic yoga. His journey leads him from the legendary students and relatives of Krishnamacharya’s to the source of modern yoga, at the palace of the Maharaja of Mysore. From Pattabhi Jois Jan learns the “Sun salutation”, from Iyengar the “King of Asanas”, the headstand, and finally Sribhashyam reveals him his father’s secret “Life Saving Yoga Session”. A feature-length documentary including rare historical footage as well as lavish reenactments.