The Life of Death of Walter Benjamin
A documentary to go with the opera “Benjamin, Dernière Nuit” recorded by Telmondis at Lyon Opera in March.
The world première of “Benjamin, Dernière Nuit” was a great success and Reiner E. Moritz took the opportunity to interview members of the cast as well as librettist Régis Debray and composer Michel Tabachnik. Debray, one-time companion of Che Guevara, unfolds the life story of essayist, critic and philosopher Walter Benjamin in flash-back, who took his life at Port-Bou while fleeing Nazi occupied France in 1940. He cleverly splits the character of Benjamin into an actor and a singer, the latter surviving in the opera as a symbol of Benjamin´s work which has lost none of its actuality. This documentary sheds new light on the life of Benjamin, discusses his major works and, with the use of clips from the opera enhances the understanding of the milieu Benjamin worked in. The librettist also pokes fun at writer André Gide, who was not very helpful to Benjamin as well as Max Horkheimer of the Frankfurt School, who was supposed to supply him with a job in the US, and uses the famous photograph of Benjamin and Brecht playing chess to recreate the roaring twenties in Berlin.
Director Reiner E. Moritz
Production Company Telmondis
Duration 58 Minutes
YOU MIGHT ALSO BE INTERESTED IN...

Berlin live - Arte’s TV broadcast of live concert
Kobalt Productions
In October, Arte is broadcasting the BERLIN LIVE concerts of Petula Clark, Suzanne Vega, The Kills, The Pixies, Fun Lovin’ Criminals and Bloc Party.

Tea, Zen, Dance
Poorhouse International
A quest for meaning in modern China, guided by the charismatic main character Zhao Liang, one of the leading choreographers of modern dance in China today.

BLUEBEARD'S CASTLE / LA VOIX HUMAINE – Paris Opera
Telmondis Distribution
Béla Bartók / Francis Poulenc

DVD: Sound Tracker - Sami Yaffa | Indonesia:Java & Bali
MONARDA Music GmbH
Sami Yaffa takes a musical trip around the world, searching for traditions and musical cultures. First release for Home Entertainment.