The Lost Honour of Katharina Blum (Die verlorene Ehre der Katharina Blum) (BFI Film Classics)

"Upon its release, Margarethe von Trotta and Volker Schlöndorff's The Lost Honour of Katharina Blum (1975) was a pivotal film for the New German Cinema movement. Released in the same year that members of the Baader-Meinhof gang went on trial for their politically-motivated crimes against corporate Germany, the film portrayed a female lead who, facing unjust persecution by the police and the media, resorts to lethal violence. Julian Preece's study considers what makes Katharina Blum new and radical, a turning point in numerous contexts, especially with respect to women's cinema and the portrayal of the female lead. Drawing on archival material including drafts of the screenplay, brochures and props, reviews and interviews, Preece traces the conception of the film and its development from the original short novel authored by Heinrich Böll, considering the differing contributions of the co-directors von Trotta and Schlöndorff. First-hand accounts by members of the cast and production team, including cinematographer Jost Vacano, producer Eberhard von Junkersdorf, and actors Angela Winkler and Mario Adorf, provide unique insight into the film's production. Inspiring numerous spin-offs throughout the 2000s, the film's themes continue to resonate with our contemporary moment, particularly in its depiction of a young woman's ordeal in a world run by men. Through an analysis of these adaptations (the most recent from 2014) Preece depicts the film's lasting influence, while also highlighting what makes the original film distinctive"-- Provided by publisher “Brisk [and] forceful.” Sight & Sound'Lucidly argued.” Total FilmMargarethe von Trotta and Volker Schlöndorff's The Lost Honour of Katharina Blum (1975) was a pivotal film for the New German Cinema movement. Julian Preece considers what makes Katharina Blum new and radical, in particular in respect of women's cinema and its portrayal of the ordeal of its female lead in a world run by men. Drawing on archival material including drafts of the screenplay, brochures and props, reviews and interviews, Preece traces the conception of the film and its development from Heinrich Böll's original novel.Preece analyses how the film continues to resonate with our contemporary moment and has influenced film-makers from the German-Turkish director Fatih Akin to the British screenwriter Peter Morgan. Brisk [and] forceful. Sight & Sound "Lucidly argued. Total Film Margarethe von Trotta and Volker Schlndorff's The Lost Honour of Katharina Blum (1975) was a pivotal film for the New German Cinema movement. Julian Preece considers what makes Katharina Blum new and radical, in particular in respect of women's cinema and its portrayal of the ordeal of its female lead in a world run by men. Drawing on archival material including drafts of the screenplay, brochures and props, reviews and interviews, Preece traces the conception of the film and its development from Heinrich Bll's original novel. Preece analyses how the film continues to resonate with our contemporary moment and has influenced film-makers from the German-Turkish director Fatih Akin to the British screenwriter Peter Morgan. A pivotal film for new German cinema -- Political context in post-68 West Germany -- Heinrich Böll's novel, or how violence develops and where it can lead -- Words or guns? Katharina Blum's struggle for articulacy -- Influence and afterlives