Films by Hans Rombach

Germany 2011, 80 min
by Katja Dringenberg, Christiane Voss

What happens to us after death? Through whose hands do our bodies pass, before they vanish from this world once and for all? ENDLICH / AT LAST - LIVING WITH THE DEAD seeks out the mysterious places that the dead pass through. In this shadow realm, it is the service providers for the dead that rule, the carers and the disposal experts. Our journey leads us from the Berlin Crematorium to a eulogist, who presents a final image of the deceased that befits them and that provides some comfort for those left behind. We hear a eulogy in an empty church, which - apart from us - only the deceased seems to hear and defies their being forgotten. We discover how the living can make contact with the dead, first of all at an emotionally charged calling of the ancestors conducted as part of a family constellation. Then, with its poetic, yet disturbing performances, a choir makes the voices of the dead audible. It invokes the mercilessness of death, making it tangible, and voices our fear of it. ENDLICH / AT LAST - LIVING WITH THE DEAD takes us to places never seen before and leads us into a fascinating and previously hidden world. World Sales by: DOC & FILM INTERNATIONAL 13, rue Portefoin, 75003 Paris FRANCE Fon : +33 (0) 1 42 77 56 87 Fax : +33 (0) 1 42 77 36 56 doc@docandfilm.com http://www.docandfilm.com

Germany 2010, 55 min
by Ines Janosch, Danuta Derbich

It was the night of February 13th 1945 when Dresden was destroyed in an airstrike. And with it vanished semper opera, Dresden´s heart of culture. Nothing but it´s impressive front remained and turned the former legendary opera house into a single memorial -until it´s reconstruction was pushed through by the Dresdeners 30 years later. The laying of the foundations in 1977 meant the beginning of an adventure for hundreds of restorers, artists, and plasterers. It was a challenging experience: The original building plans and drafts had been lost and the legendary colouring was only documented in letters. An exceptionally difficult task was awarded to the stucco plasterers who manufactured the stucco marble and stucco-lustro. These were essential for the accurate historical reconstruction of the foyers and vestibules and the reproduction of their architectural effects. Those long-forgotten crafts had to be re-learned. Also, the long-term lack of material, a result of the GDR’s weak economy, aggravated the process of reconstruction. During all this time, a group of film-makers documented silently and carefully. They immortalised the painters, sculptors, carpenters and stucco plasterers at work, ironing, waxing and polishing, painting and reconstructing. This treasure of cinematic art has now been made available by the film group. Our film tells the story of the film-group and the people who rebuilt the semper opera. Along with the Dresdeners, they fought against the GDR government for their dream of reconstructing the opera house.

Germany 2009
by Gerd Conradt

A Revelation on the Experience of Breath. Witness the work of the Experience of Breath. Prof. Ilse Middendorf (1910-2009) demonstrates movements initiated by breath, expounding upon the principles of breath that she discovered. In this inspirational documentary, the Grande Dame of Breath Therapy presents herself with her deep knowledge and clarity. These rare clips of this extraordinary Berlin personality were filmed at her Institute, the former city residence of the Princess Viktoria Luise. Ilse Middendorf participated in this project with great excitement and support. German title: ILSE MIDDENDORF: Atem - Stimme der Seele Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7Ys151xqhg

Germany 2008
by Michael Würfel

"Yesteryear's Snow" is a documentary about an experiment: After living in the city and abroad for 13 years, Michael Wuerfel moves back to his beautiful hometown Pfronten in the mountains of Southern Germany and tries to feel home again. Pfronten used to be the perfect place when he grew up. All his friends, all the girls he was in love with, all the dreams were home right there. Most people are gone now, some stayed, some potential new friends turn up. What happens to that feeling of home ("Heimatgefühl") when you do exactly what it tells you to do and go back? "Yesteryear's Snow" is a clever, funny, beautiful film about that odd feeling that's so hard to grasp. Wuerfel doesn't ask about anybody's home, he tries to live home - and we stay right with him, for one winter. We meet some personalities of Pfronten and begin to understand what the feeling might be like.

Germany 2004, 108 min
by Andres Veiel

Four acting students are the focus of Andres Veiel’s long-term observational documentary. We meet Stephanie, Karina, Constanza and Prodromos while they are preparing for their acting school auditions. The selection procedure takes months; it is a trying, nerve-racking time spent vacillating between hope and anxiety. All four make it into the school, but their initial euphoria about commencing their studies – including group exercises, role play and obligatory fencing lessons – is soon followed by deflation in the face of merciless criticism of even the slightest shortcoming by their tutors. In this way, their passion for their chosen vocation is constantly put the test.The four students couldn’t be more different: Karina appears to have very few problems; Stephanie, however, has to endure several auditions. Constanze immerses herself in her roles, whilst Prodromos always seems to be at odds with himself, his roles and his dreams. Andres Veiel: “We observe the struggles of the protagonists; how they try not to get stressed out or lose sight of themselves by worrying about the discrepancy between their expectations and their abilities. We accompany them on their search for identity and an image, but we also follow their progress towards maturity as actors and as individuals. Then, at the end of their studies, comes the real test: trying to gain a foothold in the profession. All of a sudden, they find themselves faced with a new set of questions. What is the nature of success? How high is the price for achievement? And what has become of their original dreams and aims, seven years on?”

Germany 1993, 96 min
by Andres Veiel, David Maayan

An explosive stage production against the Holocaust. Three Israeli actors: Khaled, the Palestinian; Madi, the Jew; and Moni, the child of Israeli Jews and himself a practising othodox Jew. Using highly vivid images they face up to their history – going right up to the pain barrier. (DOK.fest Munich)with: Madi Smadar Maayan, Khaled Abu Ali, Moni Yosef, David Maayan, Miri Zemach, Naama Mamber, Anat Kirschner