Films by Lars Lenski

Germany, France 2010, 54 min
by Jürgen Ellinghaus

Every two years, the small town of Beverungen, in the middle of Germany, celebrates with particular vigour its traditional Marksmen's Festival. Festivities are focused on numerous parades with marchers in uniform and a shooting contest, where the winner is declared "King". Throughout the Germanic regions, marksmen's guilds are known since the 10th century. They protected cities and rural areas against troubles, wars and looting. In Beverungen, about a quarter of the active male population is involved in the local marksmen's association. In 2008, Beverungen has the honour of hosting the annual festival of the “Confederation of Historical German Marksmen's Brotherhoods“ with thousands of participants coming from all over the west of Germany. District Kings and Diocesan Majesties compete for the title of the year's new "Confederal King" who receives the royal insignia in front of the altar, after the prayer of blessing...

Germany 2010, 73 min
by Sonja Baeger

As we get to know the internationally reknowned, Berlin based, German artist Thomas Zipp, we discover the background of his installations, which refer to the human urge of hubris and selfdestruction and are dark and humourous at the same time. His interest in psychonautics – the research of the psyche and the subconscious – is the angle from which he questions the supporting pillars of our culture and education. As he connects acknowledged values and historical characters beyond logic, he uses the freedom of art to create and claim a playfully anarchistic monument of thought. Another important part of Thomas Zipp's way of expressing himself is music. In various constellations with artist-friends they improvise a kind of psychedelic noise-rock, enriched with self-developed instruments, like a cast- iron bell (with the inscription: mind over matter) and air-raid sirens. The film has no voice-over and interweaves looking and thinking about art within the flow of storytelling. It consists of a broad variety of situations and moods: from daytoday life to being the star of his shows, up to all-night music-sessions in a country house, where art-production and rock 'n' roll come together. In chronological order of events, the scenes become a contemporary document (2006-2009), which turns the introduction to the art of Thomas Zipp into a film experience.

Germany 2009, 85 min
by Stefan Weinert

The five life stories told by former East German citizens incarcerated for attempting to flee the Republic in the GDR who are representing a group of around 72,000 ex-convicts are shocking to the core. The subjects speak with extraordinary openness of their struggles with the regime, of horrific prison conditions and interrogation methods. This sensitive documentary maintains a close proximity to its protagonists throughout, examining open wounds and bringing psychological damage to light that have made it impossible for them to live a normal fear-free lives ever since.A remarkable cinematic contribution that shows five unique facets of a daily life consisting of torture, abominations and violations of human dignity without attempting to judge, provoke or explain.Rather, the film documents and makes an important chapter in German history more palpable in the best possible sense.„Takes up the story where the Oscar winning film 'The Lives of Others‘ leaves off.“ DIE ZEITSales Germany, Switzerland & Austria: Salzgeber & Co. Medien GmbHothers: Stefan Weinert