Germany 2019
Opening November 7, 2019

Directed by: Dominik Wessely
Writing credits: Herbert Schweing, Dominik Wessely
Principal actors: Documentary with Mario Adorf, Senta Berger, Margarethe von Trotta

Mario Adorf is an icon in the theater world. Born in 1930 in Zurich, he grew up with his single mother, who worked as a seamstress, trying to make ends meet, even depositing him in an orphanage for a time. His school years were spent in Mayen, in the Eifel area of the Germany bordering Belgium and Luxemburg. During World War II he attended school, graduating with a high school diploma. He studied acting in Mainz, Zurich, and Munich and began small roles in theater, television and film. Although he had practically no contact with his Italian father (he was an illegitimate child), he worked in Italy and speaks Italian, as well as English.

This documentary follows his career best by showing short trailers of many of his films from 1957 (Nachts wenn der Teufel kam ) to 2014 (Der Letzte Mensch), with many more films in between such as Das Mädchen Rosemarie (1958), Die Blechtrommel (1979), and Die verlorene Ehre der Katharine Blum (1975), as well as several Winnetou films and many films made in Italy where he also resided. Now at age 89, he is seen planning his last tour through Germany (including a stop in Hamburg at the Laeiszhalle on May 28, six months before this film came out). German viewers will recognize most of the references to his more than 66 films. He talks about how he might have enjoyed being a sculptor, considering that he likes art (visits an art gallery in Florence, Italy) and physical exertion, which explains why he personally performed his own stunts on screen. There is little information about his personal life except a reference to “Monique.” German viewers will have many memories of Adorf, while foreign viewers will learn much about the life of an actor who is still enthusiastic and capable after almost 90 years. (Becky T.)