Ihre ergebenste Fräulein

Well Ordered Nature
A tender film, despite the fact that it speaks of how people were moulded into useful citizens during the second half of the eighteenth century, the time of the Enlightenment. This occurs in two ways. The “Dillenburg Intelligencer”, mouthpiece of the Hague-based Prince of Orange, ruler of the town, passes a degree to prohibit customary activities like begging and collecting wood from the royal forest. At the same time, the unmarried Ms. Dörrien, whose publications and letters advise women to make the most of their time and manage it wisely, tries to influence her readers with advice on how to perfect themselves through patience and diligence. She has also distinguished herself as a botanist by drawing and colouring plants and, in particular, by describing her learning processes to this end. The beauty and elegance of her language, an expression of her devotion to people and things, is a real discovery!
We see today’s Dillenburg, teenagers, little games. But mostly we see flowers, their absolute beauty and dignity. Known as an experimental filmmaker, Eva Heldmann constructed this essay film with rigour – in the images of flowers, freedom breaks through.
by Eva C. Heldmann Germany 2024 German 73’ Colour World premiere | Documentary form

Crew

Director Eva C. Heldmann
Cinematography Eva C. Heldmann, Vita Spieß, Lisa C. Heldmann
Editing Eva C. Heldmann, Renate Merck Supervision
Music Hubert Machnik
Sound Michel Klöfkorn
Narrators Elisabeth Gugel, Jochen Nix

Produced by

Eva C. Heldmann

Born in Dillenburg, Germany in 1951. After studying German, she founded a repertory cinema in the countryside with friends. Her first 16mm drama Johnny or a Raw Piece of Meat was made in 1984. During lengthy stays in southern Africa, the USA, India and Berlin, she has made experimental documentary films.

Filmography (selection)

1984 Johnny oder das rohe Fleisch (Johnny or a Raw Piece of Meat); 4 min. 1990 Compartment; 5 min. 1994 1000 Küsse an Wanda (1000 Kisses to Wanda); 22 min. 1999 Fremd gehen. Gespräche mit meiner Freundin (Stepping out); 64 min., Forum 2000 2006 The Queens Courtyard; 80 min. 2008 Five Sex Rooms und eine Küche (Five Sex Rooms and a Kitchen); 79 min. 2010 Das schöne Heim; 65 min. 2011 Prufrock Back in America; 8 min., Forum Expanded 2011 2012 r i v e r r e d; 8 min., Forum Expanded 2012 2015 Strom; 81 min., Forum Expanded 2015 2017 Im Gehäus (In His Room) 2024 Ihre ergebenste Fräulein (Well Ordered Nature); documentary

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2024