Somewhere in Ger(wo)many ... A radical female ‘army of lovers’ is preparing itself for a final revolution. Women are discussing, campaigning, menstruating and pondering the decline of patriarchy, learning about single sex reproduction, and having sex. But then of all people a young soldier appears, seeking refuge at this feminist convent. This brings their strict superintendent on the scene and ‘big mother’ is not amused. But one question remains: is it possible to have equality in a corrupt system? Or will cocks need to roll first?! As if Valerie Solanas had directed an episode of ‘Confessions of a Sixth Form Girl’, Bruce LaBruce’s latest piece of shenanigans revolves around a utopian world without men. The Canadian director, experienced Berlinale guest and Teddy award winner (for Pierrot Lunaire) presents a merry, anarchic squad of protagonists; political slogans roll as easily off their tongues as religious acclamations. Their sermons are – naturally – rounded off with ‘A(wo)men’. Sarcastic, very funny – and as queer as it gets.
by Bruce LaBruce
with Susanne Sachsse, Viva Ruiz, Kembra Pfahler, Caprice Crawford, Grete Gehrke, Kita Updike, Victoire Laly, Lo-Fi Cherry, Olivia Kundisch, Til Schindler, Serenity Rosa, Sam Dye, Lina Bembe, Barb Ara
Germany 2017 English 91’ Colour

With

  • Susanne Sachsse (Big Mother)
  • Viva Ruiz (Sister Dagmar)
  • Kembra Pfahler (Sister Kembra)
  • Caprice Crawford (Sister Barbara)
  • Grete Gehrke (Sister Grete)
  • Kita Updike (Isolde)
  • Victoire Laly (Ute)
  • Lo-Fi Cherry (Editha)
  • Olivia Kundisch (Hilde)
  • Til Schindler (Volker)
  • Serenity Rosa (Ursula)
  • Sam Dye (Helga)
  • Lina Bembe (Antje)
  • Barb Ara (Petra)

Crew

Written and Directed by Bruce LaBruce
Cinematography James Carman
Editing Judy Landkammer
Sound Manuela Schininá
Production Design Desi Santiago
Costumes Ramona Petersen
Make-Up CrisToni Florido Acosta, Sonia Balado Figueroa
Casting Paula Alamillo Rodríguez, Bruce LaBruce
Assistant Director Yotam Ishay
Production Management Sonja Klümper
Production Managers Paula Alamillo Rodríguez
Producers Jürgen Brüning, Bruce LaBruce, Sonja Klümper, Paula Alamillo Rodríguez
Executive Producers Claus Matthes, Alexandre Dieval, Björn Koll

World Sales

m-appeal – Raspberry & Cream

Produced by

Jürgen Brüning Filmproduktion

Amard Bird Films

Additional information

www.themisandrists.com

Bruce LaBruce

The filmmaker, photographer, writer and artist is based in Toronto. He has written and directed 14 feature films. Hustler White screened in Panorama in 1996 and became his first international box-office success. Gerontophilia won the Grand Prix at the 2013 Festival du Nouveau Cinéma in Montreal. As a photographer, he has had several international exhibitions including “Obscenity” at La Fresh gallery in Madrid which caused a national scandal. His feature film L.A. Zombie premiered at Locarno in 2010 and was banned in Australia. His work screened at the Berlinale several times, most recently in 2017 with The Misandrists, also in Panorama.

Filmography (selection)

1987 Bruce and Pepper Wayne Gacy’s Home Movies; short film · Boy/Girl; short film 1988 Slam!; short film · I Know What It’s Like to be Dead.; short film 1991 No Skin Off My Ass 1994 Super 8 1/2 1996 Hustler White; co-director: Rick Castro 1998 Skin Flick 2004 The Raspberry Reich 2007 Otto; or, Up with Dead People 2008 Give Piece of Ass a Chance; short film 2009 The Bad Breast; or, The Strange Case of Theda Lange; short film 2010 Weekend In Alphaville; short film · L.A. Zombie 2012 Offing Jack; short film 2013 Défense de fumer; short film · Gerontophilia 2014 Pierrot Lunaire; medium-length film 2017 Refugee’s Welcome; short film · The Misandrists · Ulrike’s Brain; medium-length film 2020 Saint Narcisse 2024 The Visitor

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2024