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 dir

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 expe

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

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 w

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

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