Swan Song (1982)

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Movie
Original title Swan song
Country of production GDR
original language German
Publishing year 1982
length 80 minutes
Rod
Director Ulrich Engelmann (theater)
Ingrid Fausak (film)
production Television of the GDR
music Uwe Hilprecht
camera Jürgen Gumpel
Klaus Hesse
Alfred Kirchner
cut Christel Lorenz
occupation

Schwanengesang is the 1982 studio recording for East German television of a production by Ulrich Engelmann based on three one-act plays by Anton Chekhov .

action

On the harmfulness of tobacco - monologue in one act

Since this is a play production, see: About the harmfulness of tobacco

Reluctant Tragedy - From the Life of a Country House Owner

Ivan Ivanovich Tolkachev enters a friend's apartment in the city, packed with a children's bike, bags, bags, parcels and a lampshade so that his hands are no longer free and asks his friend to lend him his revolver until the next day. When asked what he needs it for, he answers evasively, but after drinking a glass of water and getting rid of his baggage , he begins to tell.

Ivan Ivanovich describes himself as a whiner who asks himself why he is still alive, what this chain of physical and psychological suffering is for. He starts with the problems he faces in the office where he works as a civil servant. Apart from the employees, who all do what they want and manage the chaos, there are also the petitioners who are dumbfounded and irritable, are in a hurry and also threaten. Add to that this monotonous work, which consists of inquiries and statements and inquiries and statements. If he thinks that he can enjoy the peace and quiet in his country house after work, he still has to fulfill the various assignments of his family and neighbors. It has become common practice among summer visitors that everyone who has to do in the city brings with them what is needed in the country for everyone else. That's why he carries around several wish lists and a handkerchief with at least five knots, which he also likes to show his friend.

But that's not all of his suffering. At night he is haunted by mosquitos, romances and conjugal duties and when he really sleeps, he dreams of crocodiles. After Ivan Ivanovich is confirmed by his friend that he feels sorry for him, something occurs to him. He asks where the country house is and whether he knows an Olga Pavlova there, which Ivan Ivanovich confirms. Now he asks him to take a hand sewing machine and a bird farmer with a bird for this Olga. Is it any wonder when the confused look finally yells: “I have to see blood”! The only thing left for the friend to do now is to flee his apartment.

Swan song - Dramatic etude in one act

Since this is a theatrical production, see: Kalchas (Chekhov)

Production and publication

The dramaturgy was in the hands of Gerhard Schubert and Hans-Martin Rahner .

The basis of this studio recording was the performance of the play, translated by Gudrun Düwel , in the Deutsches Theater Berlin under the direction of Ulrich Engelmann, which premiered on March 4, 1979.

It was first broadcast in color on the second channel on GDR television on December 25, 1982.

criticism

In the Berliner Zeitung , Ernst Schumacher commented on the theater premiere:

"It is not difficult to predict that these three one-act plays (designed by Heinz Wenzel) will also fill the large theater of the German theater for a long time."

In the Neue Zeit , Helmut Ullrich says:

“Tamed comedy. which is more cautious than punctual. does justice to the tragicomic nature of these miniatures, their concentrated truth in life, in which the satirical disappears behind pity. "

In New Germany , Rainer Kerndl also wrote about the theater premiere:

"Three studies for comedians, directed by Ulrich Engelmann, fun for lovers of actors and their art, a somewhat too inexpensive undertaking, of course, also for the big stage in Schumannstrasse."

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Berliner Zeitung of March 7, 1979, p. 6
  2. ↑ Neue Zeit of March 8, 1979, p. 4
  3. ↑ Neues Deutschland, March 9, 1979, p. 4