Films by Sibylle Smolka

Germany 2023, 225 min
by Sibylle Smolka, Detlev Konnerth, Katja Runge

Breathtaking canyons, lakes and rivers: from the Tatra Mountains via the Dordogne to the Danube Delta, this series explores extraordinary, still unspoilt corners of Europe where water plays a central role.Where the elements of water and earth meet, the forces of nature are unleashed in a dramatic way. Spectacular landscapes and extraordinary habitats are created for plants and wildlife. And the energies they release have a magnetic effect on man. Often, though, it’s a case of love at second sigh

2022, 45 min
by Sibylle Smolka

Summer on the mountain pastures – we find out about the traditional family life of Kyrgyz nomad children and we accompany them to the yurt school, where they are introduced to the modern world and Kyrgyz traditions.Many families in northern Kyrgyzstan are spending summers on mountain pastures again just like their ancestors. They breed animals – especially horses – and live in yurts. For the children, this is a special time. With no school for three months, they can enjoy the spectacular, unspoi

Germany 2022, 45 min
by Sibylle Smolka

The Goral people of the Tatra Mountains in southern Poland lead a very traditional lifestyle. Living mainly from tourism today, they are still firmly committed to passing on their customs to the next generation.The Tatra Mountains in southern Poland were once a wilderness of forests and rocky outcrops. Hundreds of years ago, bandits and nomads from the Balkans hid there or looked for new pastures for their animals. Their descendants call themselves Gorals, or highlanders. For a long time, they l

Germany 2018, 52 min
by Sibylle Smolka

What do love and partnership mean in the digital age and what does the future hold? Will sex robots be the better partners? A scientific review of the most interpersonal of all relationships.The digital revolution has also profoundly changed our understanding of desire and love. New technical developments and inventions promise one thing above all else: optimisation. Today, love is a project in which everyone strives to achieve the best for themselves, and eroticism has become an adventure playg

2016, 130 min
by Sibylle Smolka, Marion Schmidt, Gordian Arneth

Each person spends about a third of his or her life asleep. Sleeping habits, however, differ, depending on age, life situation or nationality. Together with sleep expert Dr. Michael Feld, we examine how different cultures approach sleep and sleep disorders.GERMANYGermans are famous for their discipline and efficiency. But these virtues require concessions in regard to sleep. Germans get up especially early; in fact they are the earliest risers in all of Europe. At the same time, people tend to g

2015, 130 min
by Sibylle Smolka

Many everyday life goods get to us from all over the world. Even though they have crossed thousands of miles, their prices are shockingly low. On almost every occasion, this counts in to the disadvantage of the producers. While global players make gigantic profits, the farmers stay poor. Meanwhile, an alternative to this scenario does exist: Goods and products derived from fair trade.But can we really change things by our personal shopping tendencies only? Do we as consumers hold the power to c

Germany 2013, 52 min
by Sibylle Smolka, Dr. Stefanie Schmid-Altringer

The most natural thing in life has become a highly technical procedure. Today, pregnancy and birth primarily revolve around money. For the right price, the market is offering expecting parents nearly anything to make sure their child's health is guaranteed. Control, perfection and risk minimization, those are the commandments of a society increasingly defined by fear. What are the ramifications of this growing wish for a perfect and secure life? Does it harm society more than it helps it?