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Zum Tod meiner Mutter

The Death of My Mother
Encounters 2022
© Gerald Kerkletz
When the film begins, it is all over. “We know it’s terminal, and that’s all”, says Juliane of her mother Kerstin, who is in great pain and about to die aged just 64. Although the young doctor she consults acknowledges on a personal level that everyone has the right to manage their own death, he nonetheless reminds her that euthanasia is still illegal in Germany. This is even more the case at the Catholic hospice where Kerstin is staying. As relatives come to say goodbye to her mother and the emotions of memories mingle with the anticipation of grief, Juliane finds herself having to do battle with time – unbending, apathetic and monochrome – and this is superbly reflected in the convulsions of the handheld camera in wide shots.
Based on personal experience, Jessica Krummacher’s second feature film vividly relates the painful story of losing a parent. There is no violence or morbidity, rather the director describes the most important of events via the smallest, most fragile of details – the exchanging of words, texts and tender gestures that remain with us and get under our skin.
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by Jessica Krummacher
with Birte Schnöink, Elsie de Brauw, Johanna Orsini, Susanne Bredehöft, Gina Haller, Christian Löber, Nicole Johannhanwahr, Thomas Wehling, Wolfgang Rüter, Ann Göbel Germany 2022 German 135’ Colour

With

  • Birte Schnöink (Juliane)
  • Elsie de Brauw (Kerstin)
  • Johanna Orsini (Christa)
  • Susanne Bredehöft (Birgit)
  • Gina Haller (Nurse Katharina)
  • Christian Löber (Dr. Philipp Plath)
  • Nicole Johannhanwahr (Franka)
  • Thomas Wehling (Stefan)
  • Wolfgang Rüter (Kalle)
  • Ann Göbel (Elisa)

Crew

Written and Directed by Jessica Krummacher
Artistic Adviser Timo Müller
Cinematography Gerald Kerkletz
Editing Anne Fabini
Sound Design Matz Müller
Sound Johannes Schmelzer-Ziringer
Production Design Renate Schmaderer
Costumes Renate Schmaderer
Make-Up Anke Ebelt
Assistant Director Hellmut Fulss
Casting Susanne Ritter
Production Manager Anne Lessnick
Producers Tobias Walker, Philipp Worm

Produced by

Walker+Worm Film

http://www.w2-film.de http://www.w2-film.de

Photos

Berlinale Meets | Interview

Jessica Krummacher

© Clara Marnette

The filmmaker, writer and producer studied politics in Bochum and Cologne, media arts at the Karlsruhe University of Arts and Design and then documentary film and television journalism at the HFF Munich. She co-founded the Klappboxfilme production company with Timo Müller. Her graduation film Totem premiered at Venice, secured a national and international cinema release and was nominated for a German Film Critics Association Award. She is currently developing a new cinema film with the working title Bünde from an idea by Timo Müller.

Filmography (selection)

2003 Oben ist der Himmel; short film 2005 Die Kinder von Ahaus; short documentary 2007 Heiligendamm 07; short experimental film 2011 Totem 2019 Hotel Lohring; installation 2022 Zum Tod meiner Mutter (The Death of My Mother)

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2022