Films by Peter Rippl

Germany 2024, 112 min
by Nathaniel Knop

The American photographer Nathan Farb is able to participate in a cultural exchange during the 'thaw' in the Cold War in 1977 and to photograph families in Novosibirsk. The fascinating series that made Farb famous shows proud and open people. Over 40 years later, the artist visits them again with his camera, this time on the eve of a hot war. (41 Kassel Dokfest, Livia Theuer)

Germany 2023, 81 min
by Livia Theuer

DAS KINO SIND WIR tells the story of cinema as social sculpture using the example of the Filmladen Kassel. In the early 1980s ten young film freaks started as a grassroots initiative – to change the world with (political) film art, increasingly by women too, to intervene in the social discussion, to make it more open, more equal and greener. Four decades later commercialisation, the digital revolution and the pandemic have changed cinema. In a collage of film clips, interviews and archive material, significant filmmakers and the cinema team explore questions about the meaning and future of engaged cinema culture.With Ulrike Ottinger, Gertrud Inkus, Monika Treut, Mala Reinhardt, Frauke Lodders, Andres Veiel, Thomas Frickel, Raymond ley, Klaus Stern, Irmhild Scheuer, Burkhard Hofmann, Gerhard Wissner, Raymond Ley, Frank Thöner, David Le Grand, Ellen Witzel, Jasmin Weber, Christoph Basler.

2015, 78 min
by Peter Rippl

A film about hope, death and resurrection. “It is this, the darkest night in the history of Mankind, the night when God gave his life for us.” With these words the Archbishop opens his prayer. It is almost midnight and it starts to rain in the streets in front of the church San Domenico.Thousands are waiting for the great moment when the statue of Our Lady of Sorrows will be brought out of the church and exposed in the square. In the district of Tamburi, close to the steel mill, the situation is the worst. An ordinance prohibits children to play outside, because the ground is contaminated.You cannot bury the dead, because even the soil of the graveyard is poisoned. Those who can, leave.The environmental requirements have been ignored for 20 years because of the profits. The city, the politicians, the government, they’re all partners in crime. Every year the inhabitants of Taranto breathe 2.7 tonnes of carbon monoxide and 57, 7 tons of carbon dioxide. The dioxin in the air is supposed to be responsible for diseases such as leukaemia and lymphoma. The film shows how the Tarantini, in particular the women of Taranto try to deal with this difficult situation. The film shows their hopes, wishes and beliefs.The central theme of the documentary is the Good Friday procession, the so-called 'Pellegrinaggio dell'Addolorata' and the people who participate in it. The background of the story is the decline of heavy industry, once a source of economic wealth and employment, now a heavy burden on the city in terms of health and environment..

Germany 2008, 96 min
by Peter Rippl

The Story of a Boy-Band Made in Russia. First feature documentary on Russian underground superstars. Packed with rollicking live footage The Man who sings is a feature film documentary on Russian Polkapunkband Leningrad. Playing a weird mix of Polka, Ska, Tango, Punk and traditional popular music these 15 conservatory educated Punks obtained cult status at the end of the nineties in Russia.But the film is more than just the bands onstage magic. It gives you an insight into how people perceived the massive changes in Russia over the past years, the dynamics of a fast, colourful and difficult decade. You'll meet many people, in many different roles: Mastermind Shnurov as a rock star and a diligent worker, Leningrad fans and opponents, music business representatives, artists' with all but unanimous opinions on music, friendship, money, politics, language, and business.Russian with English or German subtitles available.