Films by Ralf Pleger

Germany 2018, 416 min
by Julie Kirchhoff, Sylvie Kürsten, Ralf Pleger, Kurt Mayer

THE ART OF MUSEUMS is not a classic documentary series about galleries displaying dusty old paintings. These films trace the turbulent biographies of each museum, from their survival of wars to their visions for the future. The museums have witnessed fierce battles and great triumphs. Their lives are full of intrigue, hope and celebration—moments inscribed in their histories. We tell these stories through a multitude of perspectives, from exclusive archive material, to interviews with museum directors and celebrities like Vivienne Westwood, Marina Abramović, Ólafur Elíasson and Wolfgang Joop and many more. Our audience encounters some of the most powerful masterpieces of European cultural history—and experiences just how alive these museums are...In the halls of world-famous museums, stars of the creative industry experience some of the world’s most iconic paintings. New ways of seeing emerge and the power of art is articulated in fresh, and often unexpected, ways.In this eight-part documentary series we dig deep into the souls of eight museums and discover their unique spirits, turbulent histories and the challenges they face in a fast-changing digitized world.We do this through the eyes and hearts of renowned creatives. Celebrities like Vivienne Westwood, Marina Abramovic and Karl Ove Knausgaard explore artists from Caravaggio to Kandinsky, from Gentileschi to Goya, showing us how just how relevant and important their artworks continue to be, both to themselves and within the public imagination. Each episode is dedicated to a particular museum:• Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum | New York | Julie Mehretu• Musée d‘Orsay | Paris | Sasha Waltz• Uffizi Gallery | Florence• Museo del Prado | Madrid | Joyce DiDonato• Rijksmuseum | Amsterdam | Erwin Olaf• Nationalgalerie | Berlin• Kunsthistorisches Museum | Vienna | Vivienne Westwood• Munch Museum | Oslo | Karl Ove KnausgårdEach museum has its own character. It has a spirit, a biography, a challenge, a mission for the future. Some are rebellious, others are conservative, a few are even brash. Each will be introduced by an internationally renowned guest, be it an artist, fashion designer, best-selling author or opera singer.In Vienna, for example, activist and fashion designer Dame Vivienne Westwood guides us through the Kunsthistorisches Museum, encountering artworks that resonate with her own outspoken career, exploring poignant themes like social justice and female empowerment. Over in New York, artist Julie Mehretu brings us into her studio to document the creation of a new painting, before we accompany her to the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, a gallery space just as radical as the artist herself. Back in Berlin, we explore the unique life of the Alte Nationalgalerie, a space within which the cultural heritage of both East and West meet. The Rijksmuseum embodies the pride of the Dutch nation, and comes with a modern perspective. The institution is pushing the boundaries of traditional museum curation by exploring the potential of digital art collections. Acclaimed Vogue photographer Erwin Olaf discusses his lifelong relationship with the Rijksmuseum, and reflects on its ongoing influence in his own work.To respond to the burgeoning demand for online art, we have created purpose built digital art laboratory—a space with dozens of screens that support large-scale projections and allow us to enlarge high-resolution copies of the paintings. Here, our expert at historian Dr. Matt Lodder will contexualize the artworks, whilst interviews with famous creatives such as Marina Abramovic, Ólafur Elíasson, Norman Foster and many more add depth and emotion to our detailed analysis of the artworks.Every painting is a window into our hosts’ own creative practice, and every episode expresses a particular museum’s unique spirit in an intimate yet cinematic style. Enhanced by our multi-perspective approach to storytelling, THE ART OF MUSEUMS creates a unique experience of some of the world’s most famous pieces of art and the museums that house them.

Germany 2016, 93 min
by Ralf Pleger

Even though Florence Foster Jenkins is known as the worst singer of all times she has had a successful stage career in NYC in the 1920s, seemingly suspending all the rules. Taking on the challenge of portraying the flamboyant ’queen of dissonance‘ is opera superstar Joyce DiDonato. This casting enablesthe audience to experience two contrasting musical worlds: the melodious music Florence Foster Jenkins claimed to make, and the dissonant reality that her listeners were subjected to. Renowned experts in the field, contemporary witnesses, as well as original audio recordings and previously unpublished photos gradually expose the scandal and mystery that still surrounds Florence Foster Jenkins.With: Joyce DiDonato, Adam Benzwi and Jan Rekeszus

Germany 2015, 52 min
by Ralf Pleger

An emotionally charged psychograph of the most famous Russian composer on the occasion of his 175th birthday in May, 2015The film radically transfers Peter Tchaikovsky into the present time and draws an emotional psychological portrait. Tchaikovsky’s fate, being at the mercy of a homophobic environment as a gay man, comes up for current discussion. Additionally, renowned international artists and experts reveal their very personal approach to Tchaikovsky and his music.Tchaikovsky is regarded as Russia’s most famous composer. Works like “Swan Lake”, “Eugene Onegin” and the Symphony no. 6 “Pathétique” are among his global triumphs. He is celebrated as a national hero. And Tchaikovsky was gay – then as now a taboo in Russia.With a radical cinematic artifice Tchaikovsky’s adventures are translated into the here and now. The composer’s struggle with his homosexuality, the serious consequences of his crisis, the fusion of life and work and the mysterious circumstances of his death are retold within modern scenarios. Not only Tchaikovsky’s fate, but also his artistic legacy is confronted with the present. The contemporary relevance of his case is taken into account as well as the – often underestimated – avant-garde quality of his music.The film is based on interviews with leading international artists and experts, including the Russian ballet star Vladimir Malakhov, the American organ virtuoso and eccentric Cameron Carpenter. The dance and musical creations of these artists stand for a very original and contemporary treatment of Tchaikovsky’s works. In the interviews, the protagonists reveal their personal and sometimes very emotional access to Tchaikovsky and his music. Supported by the biographer Philip Bullock and the Tchaikovsky researcher Kadja Grönke, the film initiates an exciting and insightful debate on Tchaikovsky’s topicality.Director Ralf Pleger is one of the most prominent German directors in the field of classical music. He has been honored for his work with numerous awards. Most recently, he has realized the films “The Beethoven Files” and “The Wagner Files“ with the gebrueder beetz filmproduktion. „The Wagner Files“ won the Audience Award at the World Film Festival in Montreal and was nominated for the International Emmy Award in 2014.

2013, 90 min
by Ralf Pleger

The investigative culture documentary THE WAGNER FILE explores the myth of the great German composer. The filmic investigation starts with the death of Richard Wagner on February 13th 1883 in Venice. Uncovering the circumstances of his death, a team of experts lead by an investigator take a closer look on Wagner’s life and paint a new picture of the great composer.THE WAGNER FILE is an European cross-media project including a 90min TV event film, a graphic novel (Knesebeck Publishing House) and a documentary App for tablets and smartphones.

Germany 2013, 52 min
by Hedwig Schmutte, Ralf Pleger

Ludwig van Beethoven’s work is legendary – and already was while he was still alive. He is famous around the world, and yet little is known about the conditions under which his music was composed. One thing is certain: he composed most of his masterpieces AFTER the onset of his deafness. When he composed his famous 9th symphony, he wasn’t able to hear a thing! A deaf composer? How is that possible? 200 years after Beethoven’s death, THE BEETHOVEN FILES casts light of one of the biggest mysteries of music history.

Germany 2013, 104 min
by Ralf Pleger

The best newcomers to the opera scene from Australia, Canada, France, Poland, Russia, South Korea and the USA compete against each other in an extraordinary and exciting singing competition on a luxury cruise ship. This 4-part documentary captures the most exciting and high-class contest of the musical world. During the singing competition Stella Maris, the most renowned newcomers to the international opera scene meet up for a strong-voiced battle on the high seas: Who will ultimately win? Who will score with the renowned jury, and who will score with the audience? The winner of the competition receives an award of 15,000 Euro. Further prizes include guest engagements as well as an opportunity to record a CD with the Deutsche Grammophon. The Stella Maris takes place on the luxury cruise liner MS Europa. En route from Dubai to the Seychelles director Ralf Pleger accompanies eight up-and-coming talents from the world’s most renowned opera houses. In four rounds (opera, oratorio, song and ensemble) the participants compete for the favour of the jury and audience as well as for lucrative prizes. The focus of the Stella Maris is on the works of Verdi and Wagner, which will be individually interpreted with the help of professional singing coach Michael Schade.