There’s nothing in German film history quite like Jesus – Der Film, starting with the fact this is probably the sole joint endeavor by underground artists from the FRG and the GDR. Michael Bryntrupp, the project’s mastermind, invited directors and collectives he considered like-minded to each adapt a chapter of the Good Book. Everyone could do whatever they wanted (within limits Bryntrupp monitored); nobody knew (in theory if probably not in practice) how the others were approaching their stories; several chapters were directed by Jesus B. himself. Call it an exercise in muted exquisite corps. The result is closer to the Bible’s words and images than the Zealots might have you believe – even if the Maria Magdalena of Doris Kuhn (cf. Morgen) is punished by lingerie-clad ladies, while for Jörg Buttgereit (cf. German Angst) Jesus is a vampire who needs a stake to finally die.
Film details
Country of production
Germany
Year
1986
Festival edition
IFFR 2015
Length
125'
Medium/Format
DCP
Language
German
Premiere status
None
Director
Michael Brynntrup
Producer
Michael Brynntrup
Screenplay
Dietrich Kuhlbrodt, Jörg Buttgereit, Michael Brynntrup, Chris Dreier, Andreas Hentschel, Almut Iser, Georg Ladanyi, Robert Paris, Stiletto, Andreas Wildfang