M. A. Numminen Sings Wittgenstein

Panorama 40 2019

A singer walks onto a concert hall stage with a pianist. “Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must be silent.” The famous dictum by Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889-1951) becomes part of a subversive game with the audience’s expectations. Claes Olsson has worked with the versatile Finnish entertainer Mauri Antero Numminen a number of times. Together they create short but inspired and refreshingly uncomfortable masterpieces that take on the establishment and are guaranteed to push the boundaries of any comfort zone.

by Claes Olsson
with Mauri Antero Numminen, Pedro Hietanen Finland 1993 German 1’ Black/White

With

Mauri Antero Numminen (Singer)
Pedro Hietanen (Pianist)

Crew

Written and Directed by	Claes Olsson
Cinematography	Pertti Mutanen
Editing	Claes Olsson
Music	Mauri Antero Numminen, Ludwig Wittgenstein
Sound	Tero Malmberg
Art Director	Claes Olsson
Producer	Claes Olsson

World sales

Kinotuotanto Oy - Nordic Film Pool Oy

Produced by

Kinotuotanto Oy - Nordic Film Pool Oy

Claes Olsson

Born in Helsinki, Finland in 1948, he is a prominent Finnish film director, scriptwriter and producer. He studied philosophy, sociology and communication at the University of Helsinki. Between 1996 and 2001, he was a professor of art and a visiting professor at the University of Washington. His theatrical features, documentaries, short films and music videos have been screened across Scandinavia, Europe and the USA and have won several awards at national and international festivals.

Filmography (selection)

1987 Elvis-kissan jäljillä (On the Trail of Elvis, the Cat) 1988 Stiller, Garbo & jag (Stiller, Garbo & Me); documentary; Panorama 1993 Akvaariorakkaus (Saara’s Love) · M. A. Numminen Sings Wittgenstein; music video; Panorama 1995 M. A. Numminen Goes Tech-No; music video 1997 M. A. Numminen Meets Schubert; music video 1998 Underbara kvinnor vid vatten (Amazing Women by the Sea) 1999 Satumaa – Unto Monosen elämä ja tangot (Fairyland - The Life and Tangos of Unto Mononen); documentary 2000 M. A. Numminen Turns Rabbit; music video 2005 Onnen varjot (Shades of Happines) 2007 Colorado Avenue 2012 Slaget om Näsilinna 1918 (Live or Dead 1918) 2013 M. A. Numminen in der Sauna (M. A. Numminen in the Sauna); music video · Längs Helsingegatan (Along the Helsinki Street); documentary 2016 Att fånga tiden med penseln (To Catch the Time with a Brush); short documentary

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2019