The Last Faust
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| Original title | The Last Faust |
| Country of production | United Kingdom |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 2019 |
| length | 108 minutes |
| Rod | |
| Director |
Philipp Humm Dominik Wieschermann |
| script | Philipp Humm, Ellen Elkin |
| production | Philipp Humm, Daniele Mah |
| music | Florian Siegmund |
| camera | Dominik Wieschermann |
| cut | Dominik Wieschermann |
| occupation | |
| |
The Last Faust is a 2019 feature film written and directed by German artist Philipp Humm . Set in the year 2059, it is a contemporary take on Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's Faust and the first film based directly on both parts of the tragedy. It shows the English actors Steven Berkoff (Dr. Goodfellow) and Martin Hancock (Faust). Music based on Richard Wagner with titles by the Swiss electronic music duo Yello .
The film is part of a larger project of the same name - The Last Faust, it is Humm's total work of art and "comprises more than 150 works of art, including a feature film, an illustrated novella and collections of drawings, sculptures, fine art photographs and paintings."
content
The year is 2059. Dr. Goodfellow, the CEO of a giant tech company, is hiding in his late mother's house. He feels safe there because the building is not yet connected to the neural AI network that Goodfellow himself created and which is now on the verge of destroying humanity. Goodfellow is in the company of his latest creation, a sophisticated android named Paris, whom Goodfellow tells about his predecessor Faust.
The story begins with God and the devil (Mephisto) making a bet while playing chess: God believes in humanity and is convinced that Mephisto Dr. Faust, a devout scientist and CEO of Winstone Inc in Silicon Valley, cannot lead astray. Mephisto contradicts and they bet Mephisto visits Faust on Earth, first in the form of a poodle, then as a hedge fund manager. Faust dreams of emulating God and creating a superman. This desire is so strong that he is ready to give his soul for unrestricted access to knowledge.
But the devious Mephisto outwits Faust and introduces him to the world of carnal lust instead of giving him the much sought-after insights. The devil betrayed Faust falls in love with the 16-year-old Gretchen, but their relationship ends with the tragic death of the girl, the death of their child and the death of Gretchen's mother and brother.
Faust is not deterred by the tragedy. Driven by sensual lust, he demands to get to know Helena of Troy , the most beautiful woman of all time, who had appeared to him in a vision. Mephisto and Homunculus , the AI robot that Faust created, travel back 4,000 years and find themselves in Greek mythology. Faust meets and marries Helena, who gives birth to a child named Euphorion. But Euphorion dies and Helena disappears.
In his grief, Faust can finally shake off the bonds of his desire. He teams up with Mephisto and travels back to the present where he helps an emperor win a war. After the victory, Faust is awarded a country residence. He tries to wrest land from the sea and enjoys life as a capitalist. On his deathbed, Faust wrote a manifesto about an egalitarian society , which was later compared to the Communist Manifesto. After Faust's death, his soul can be resurrected and is united with Gretchen - an example of the peculiar moral code of the Catholic Church .
After Dr. Goodfellow has told the story of Faust, Paris finishes recording and sends it to cyberspace, where it will be safely kept in a time capsule for future generations. Meanwhile, the neural AI network has tracked down Goodfellow in his hiding place. The end of humanity is near.
occupation
- Steven Berkoff plays Dr. Goodfellow telling the story of his predecessor Faust. Goodfellow stands for Silicon Valley , where unbridled technological advances have spawned AI that threatens human existence. The role is played by British theater and film veteran Steven Berkoff. The role was based on Charles Gray , the narrator from The Rocky Horror Picture Show . Berkoff himself was inspired by The Last Faust to write, produce and play the one-man piece Harvey in London's West End .
- Martin Hancock is Dr. Faust , the CEO of Winestone Inc., a high-tech company in Silicon Valley. A tragic character, a genius with little compassion who just indulges in lust for a while. A pioneer by Harvey Weinstein . Christoph Waltz , among others, served as a reference for the cast .
- Glyn Dilley plays the devil Mephisto , who cheats people and loves to play pranks. He initially appears as a poodle and later as his true earthly self - a hedge fund manager. During the cast, Ben Kingsley served as a guide.
- Yvonne Mai is 16 year old beautiful Gretchen, a receptionist at Winestone Inc. who specializes in Dr. Faust, the company's CEO, falls in love. Gretchen is a victim, but she also becomes a perpetrator herself.
- Scarlett Mellish Wilson plays Helena , the most beautiful woman of all time, daughter of Zeus and Leda. In Greek mythology she is kidnapped from Paris , in Goethe's Faust by Faust.
- Isabella Bliss is the angel that Dr. Faust protects to ensure that the bet between God and the devil can take its course. Anna Nicole Smith served as a role model in casting this role .
- Edwin De La Renta plays Homunculus and the supermen Paris. Homunculus is a Dr. Faust developed AI robot, Paris a more sophisticated model that Dr. Goodfellow created. Humm deliberately cast a black actor and styled him with blue contact lenses and blonde hair. This sharp contrast to the type with whom this role was traditionally filled makes a clear statement.
production
development
The film was conceived from the start as part of a larger project - Humm's total work of art (entitled The Last Faust ). This consists of over 150 artistic representations, including an illustrated Novella, art photographs, sculptures, drawings and paintings. Originally Humm wanted to limit himself to painting, but then the project developed organically into a comprehensive work of art.
The script consists of two parts:
- The central part of the script is the story of Dr. Fist. Humm used the original text by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's Faust in the English translation by Martin Greenberg - but in a version shortened and slightly modified by Humm. The script is divided into 37 chapters. Humm limited himself to the scenes that he thought were particularly relevant.
- There is also a framework story. Faust's successor Dr. Goodfellow guides the audience through the 37 scenes and tells his own story. This part was written by Phillipp Humm and Ellen Elkin.
Humm visualized the scenes in 37 large-format pencil drawings, which later served as a storyboard for the film and as a template for the art photographs.
Filming and set design
The film was recorded in two blocks according to the script structure. The shooting time was 20 days with a three-day trial.
The core story was staged on 15 days in June 2018, parallel to the production of the art photographs. Two connected studios in the Park Royal Studios in London were used as the filming location. On average, the team managed 2.5 film scenes and 2.5 photo scenes per day. This was a very intensive production.
Since the studios are actually geared towards photo shoots, they weren't completely soundproof. The team had to deal with some outside noise. A loud ice cream truck made for a special amusement. In order to be able to keep to the very tight schedule, Humm used projections and a few meaningful props instead of an elaborate set design. His team installed a huge cinema screen on the back wall of the studio. The film is very reminiscent of a theater production. Humm was inspired by Robert Wilson's projections and lighting design .
For the shooting of the second block in August 2018, Humm had the text of the narrator, which he wrote himself, revised by Ellen Elkin. At the same time, Daniele Mah hired Steven Berkoff for the role of Dr. Goodfellow. The filming took place in a luxurious old mansion at Lordship Park 89 in London. They lasted five days and ended in September 2018.
The film was shot on a Blackmagic URSA Minipro with Hanse Inno Tech Celere HS and a P&S anamorphic zoom 35-70mm lens. The picture format is 1.78 / 1 and 2.35 / 1.
Post-production and music
The post-production of the film took place in Essen, Germany and began in October 2018. Wieschermann and Humm worked together on editing for three weeks. At the same time, Humm worked with London-based CGI specialist John Fox on the photos that May and Griffiths had taken in the studio. The post-production of the film took a total of four months.
The music for The Last Faust is based on Richard Wagner's piano works and was composed by Florian Siegmund. But other pieces were also used, including songs by the group Yello . The sound effects were recorded and mixed by Felix Sievert in his studio in Hamburg .
subjects
Artificial intelligence
Dr. Goodfellow succeeded Dr. Faust succeeded Winestone Inc. as CEO and Senior Scientist. Under his leadership, the company from Silicon Valley developed an AI-controlled neural network with which people and things are closely connected. The creation of this network was made possible by the development of quantum computers. They were the first to offer computing power that required self-learning intelligence. The network initially worked for the benefit of humanity and the planet. But one day it comes to the conclusion that its creators, the humans, destroyed the earth and decides to wipe it out.
Dr. Goodlfellow underestimated the risks of unbridled technological advancement. With technologies like AI, mankind has created uncontrollable weapons. Our future will depend on the benevolence of machines.
All futurologists agree on one basic assumption: the human brain is still stuck in the Stone Age. Machines, on the other hand, do not suffer from hunger or cold. In the constant pursuit of efficiency, we will end up on the scrap heap of history. And it's unlikely that machine historians will ever even mention us. We will disappear from collective memory, sharing the fate of the Native Americans from before Columbus. In The Last Faust this process begins in 2059 ”
Harvey Weinstein and #metoo
Part one of Goethe's Faust tells the love story between old Dr. Faust and the young Gretchen, a 14-year-old of radiant beauty. Faust had made a pact with the devil Mephisto to gain access to God's creative power. But Mephisto lays him in and instead gives him sensual pleasure, the unbridled desire for young meat. Faust uses his position of power and the powers of the devil to seduce Gretchen. The love story ends tragically with the death of Gretchen, her child, her mother and her brother.
Vladimir Nabokov's protagonist Humbert Humbert from the novel Lolita experiences a similar fate. He is obsessed with the adolescent Lolita and justifies her seduction with his adoration of youth. Harvey Weinstein is also reminiscent of Faust, but his sexual relationships were of a different nature. He was at the head of a Hollywood empire. He was a sex offender who used his position as a weapon to abuse and coerce young actresses.
In Goethe's world, Faust is a monster, but he can achieve redemption. He does not share Gretchen's irreversible fate. Powerful, rich men have privileges. In the last act of the piece, Faust's soul is called to paradise. Gretchen, on the other hand, ended up in dungeon and died.
While Goethe assigns responsibility to the victim, the #meetoo movement blames the perpetrator. In order to recognize the truth, however, one must consider the psychology of the relationship between men and women in a differentiated manner. The roles of victims and perpetrators change over time. We should avoid prejudice and wait for the results of the legal process.
Morals of the Catholic Church
One could argue that the Church made Faust possible in the first place, especially the dark side of Faust. Just like the church kept the mafia system alive or cooperated with the regime during the Nazi dictatorship in Germany. Heinrich Heine said that Faust was the beginning of a critical attitude towards religion and the church and the beginning of the scientific age. The "Faustian" is not only a pact between Mephisto (experience) and Faust (knowledge), but also a bet between God (the good) and Mephisto (the bad). Since God cannot lose any weather - otherwise he would be fallible - he accepts the morally questionable decisions that Faust makes during his life as long as Faust only continues to seek the truth.
When the Pope realizes that the reigning emperor is damaging the economy and thereby reducing the church's tax revenue, he finances a counter-emperor. The emperor wins the war with the help of Mephisto and Faust and the church receives its share in the form of land and taxes. The church derives its power from the right to appoint the emperor and from its financial wealth. Goethe refers to the establishment of the Holy Roman Empire in the 13th century, when four electors (Saxony, Bavaria, Swabia and Franconia) and the Archbishop of Mainz elected the emperor, who was then crowned by the Pope. It is possible that Goethe made an allusion to the Congress of Vienna in 1815, when the feudal system and the feudal rights of the church, which had been withdrawn from it in 1803, temporarily re-established until 1848 - after Goethe's death.
Goethe and Draghi / Greenspan
Faust takes on the role of Plutus , personified wealth , in a carnival-like mummery at the emperor's court . He predicts even greater prosperity for the emperor. Mephisto becomes a central banker and has the gold-based currency replaced by paper money. You have to read that from the historical context of Goethe's time. In 1716, the Scottish banker John Law proposed that the national deficit be offset by the introduction of paper money. The attempt failed in 1720, but paper money persisted and facilitated the emergence of banking. In Faust, the tumbling economy recovers quickly, but only temporarily. Because the expenditure is financed solely by printing money, the national deficit grows until it threatens to stall the economy. This prompts the Pope to support an opposing emperor who is supposed to replace the incompetent ruler. While the government is creating an economic debacle, many influential courtesans can use paper money to repay their debts and make great fortune. Modern asset-backed capitalism is born.
This makes Mephisto the father of Greenspan and Draghi .
Release
The film was launched on December 2, 2019 as VOD on online streaming platforms and then as DVD .
reception
Stuart Jeffries wrote in The Guardian, "Humm's Adaptation addresses issues such as sexual harassment, artificial intelligence, the troubling ethical implications of technological advances and the content of millions of comments". And Stewart Clarke notes in Variety that the issues raised tell something about "the current relevance of Goethe's interpretation of the German legend". In her “Article of the Week” review in the Financial Times , Suzi Feays called the work “unusual and grandiose. And in an interview with BBC Radio London, Jo Good describes the film as an “absolute must”.
The Last Faust received very positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes . Film Threat's Dylan Andersen gave the work an eight out of ten and wrote: “Whether you enjoy going to the theater, adoring Goethe or looking for an introduction to the Faust myth, the film will fulfill all of these wishes. Even someone who just happens to see it will enjoy it ”. Rich Cline, a Rotten Tomatoes reviewer who writes for Shadows on the Wall , gave the film three out of five, judging: “Humm and co-director / cameraman Wieschermann create an overwhelming variety of living tableaus to tell their story. The film is complemented by paintings, photographs, sculptures and an illustrated book. In other words: The Last Faust appears more as a museum piece than a film. It's more about stimulating and confronting the viewer than telling a coherent story with empathetic characters. Yes, it is exhausting, but Humm's completely crazy approach is breathtaking ”.
Jane Foster from Britflicks praised The Last Faust : “If you like style house films and Faust , or if you're a Steven Berkoff fan, THE LAST FAUST is for you. The outstanding acting achievements alone make the film worth seeing ”. and Liselotte Vanophem noted in OC movie on : "It is obvious that" The Last Faust "was made with great passion, dedication and skill. Not everyone will like the result, but it's a strange, unique, beautiful and meaningful film ”. Wendy Attwell from Set the Tape gave the production a three out of five and stated: “It's a fascinating interpretation. There is no doubt that many literary and theater studies students will have to deal with it in the coming years - and will be both confused and enlightened by it ”. Graeme Clark of The Spinning Image , who gives the film five out of ten points, has a similar opinion and says: “With the film, screenwriter and director Philipp Humm shows his own signature in the style of a video artist. This is an art form that uses modern technology to create your images and convey your statements ”.
The film also received attention from the German press. In a radio interview with Deutschlandfunk , Ulrich Bierman described the film as a total work of art. And Hans-Georg Rodek from the newspaper Die Welt praised Philipp Humm for the use of expressionist backgrounds and for having done something that no director had dared to do before him.
Web links
- The Last Faust on IMDb
- The Last Faust official website
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b The Last Faust in the Internet Movie Database (English)
- ↑ Stewart Clarke: Former Vodafone and Amazon Exec Philipp Humm on His Move Into Filmmaking With The Last Faust. In: Variety , November 21, 2018.
- ^ Philipp Humm - About .
- ↑ Dr. Jacques Coulardeau: Philip Humm's Very Last Faust . In: Medium (website) . December 3, 2019. Accessed January 14, 2020.
- ↑ Rich Cline: The Last Faust Review . In: Shadows on the Wall . Retrieved January 10, 2020.
- ^ Profiles: Steven Berkoff .
- ↑ Stuart Jeffries: Steven Berkoff: who will dare to stage my one-man Harvey Weinstein play? . In: The Guardian , November 20, 2018.
- ↑ Arifa Akbar: Harvey review - Steven Berkoff explores Weinstein's psyche . In: The Guardian , February 13, 2019.
- ^ Profiles: Martin Hancock (Faust) . In: Philipp Humm . Retrieved February 3, 2020.
- ^ A b c Meet the Devil - Glyn Dilley as Mephisto . In: Philipp Humm . Retrieved February 3, 2020.
- ↑ a b Profile: Yvonne 'Yvi' Mai (Gretchen) . Retrieved February 3, 2020.
- ↑ Helen of Troy - The Most Beautiful Woman Ever . In: YouTube . Retrieved February 3, 2020.
- ↑ The Angel: Faust's Femme Fatale . In: Philipp Humm . Retrieved February 3, 2020.
- ↑ Technology Unbound . In: Philipp Humm . Retrieved February 3, 2020.
- ↑ a b Stuart Jeffries: A hotline to Satan: why is the ex-CEO of Vodafone making a film version of Faust? . In: The Guardian , July 16, 2018. Retrieved January 5, 2020.
- ↑ a b c d How We Made The Last Faust (Interview with Philipp Humm) . In: Philipp Humm . Retrieved February 3, 2020.
- ^ A b Ulrich Biermann: Faust was written for the 21st century . In: deutschlandfunk , December 2, 2019. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
- ↑ Stewart Clarke: Former Vodafone and Amazon Exec Philipp Humm on His Move Into Filmmaking With The Last Faust. In: Variety , November 21, 2018. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
- ^ The Quantum Leap: the next generation of supercomputers will determine the future of AI . In: Philipp Humm . Retrieved February 4, 2020.
- ↑ Stuart Jeffries: Steven Berkoff: who will dare to stage my one-man Harvey Weinstein play? . In: The Guardian , November 20, 2018.
- ^ A b Steven Berkoff on Faust, H. Weinstein and AI . In: Philipp Humm . Retrieved February 17, 2020.
- ^ The infernal incarnations of Faust . In: Philipp Humm . Retrieved February 17, 2020.
- ↑ Watch The Last Faust .
- ↑ Stewart Clarke: Former Vodafone and Amazon Exec Philipp Humm on His Move Into Filmmaking With 'The Last Faust' . In: Variety , November 21, 2019. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
- ↑ Suzi Feay: The Last Faust: Steven Berkoff stars in Philipp Humm's take on Goethe . In: Financial Times , November 29, 2019. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
- ↑ Suzi Feay: Critics' choice . In: Financial Times . Retrieved January 18, 2020.
- ^ Jo Good: Interview with Philipp Humm and Steven Berkoff . In: BBC Radio London . Retrieved December 20, 2019.
- ↑ The Last Faust . In: Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved January 20, 2020.
- ↑ Dylan Andersen: The Last Faust . In: Film Threat . Retrieved January 20, 2020.
- ↑ Rich Cline: The Last Faust Review . In: Shadows on the Wall . Retrieved January 20, 2020.
- ↑ Jane Foster: Jane Foster Reviews Philip Humm's 'Art House Rout' THE LAST FAUST . In: Britflicks . Retrieved January 18, 2020.
- ↑ Liselotte Vanophem: Beautiful Art In Its Many Forms . In: OC Movie Reviews . December 2, 2019. Accessed January 18, 2020.
- ↑ Wendy Attwell: The Last Faust - Review . In: Set the Tape . December 2, 2019. Accessed January 18, 2020.
- ↑ Graeme Clark: The Last Faust . In: The Spinning Image . Retrieved January 18, 2020.
- ↑ Ulrich Biermann: Faust was written for the 21st century . In: Deutschlandfunk , December 2, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
- ↑ Hanns-Georg Rodek: The top manager who wants to be immortal . In: Die Welt , December 13, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2020.