1/2
Germany | Australia 2015
Opening November 23, 2017
Directed by: Julian Rosefeldt
Writing credits: Julian Rosefeldt
Principal actors: Cate Blanchett
Cate Blanchett delivers art/political manifestos in the form of monologues. These are performed in the guise of 13 very different characters from our contemporary world; including a newsreader, a homeless man and a grieving widow. The manifestos themselves are as varied as the characters that deliver them including; Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels' Communist Manifesto and Dogme 95.
The performances are, as you would expect, varied and a tribute to the actress’s skill. However, from the first scene the film subjects the viewer to verbal and visual stimulus that at times takes an effort to process. A second or third viewing with perhaps the text of the manifestos would help to experience this ‘artwork’ fully, or perhaps best viewed as it was intended by Rosefeldt, a multi-channel video installation. Otherwise, it’s heavy going on a large screen, in a dark theatre. 95 minutes ()