Familientreffen

Marthaler Theater im Grand Hotel

Sarah Derendinger

The former director of the Zurich Schauspielhaus stages a play in the Waldhaus Sils Maria Hotel. The leading actor reflects on the preparations from his hospital bed.

To mark the 100th anniversary of the Waldhaus Sils Maria Hotel, Christoph Marthaler, former director of the Zurich Schauspielhaus, is staging a performance inside the hotel. It was the idea of Jürg Kienberger, heir to the family-run hotel, who is also a long-time member of Marthaler’s ensemble. Although he has recently undergone an operation on his knees and is confined to a hospital bed, he is playing the leading role in the play, FAMILIENTREFFEN. MARTHALER THEATER IM GRAND HOTEL. The bespectacled, curly-headed Kienberger spills the beans onMarthaler’smethods, speaking eloquently and in his best public-speaking voice while his leg is kept in perpetual motion. As he talks, we see scenes of the rehearsals – the actors exercises with balls are not dissimilar to Kienberger’s physiotherapy.
Filmmaker Sarah Derendinger remains an objective observer, although she often brings the camera close to her subjects’ faces. The hotel lounge and the sports hall serve as the stage. The actors play hotel guests whose every physical imperfection, such as knock knees or unsightly bulges, are emphasized and exaggerated by their unflattering costumes. They are a pack of misfits who only come together when they sing as a choir, until the story gradually develops.
Derendinger’s portrayal ofMarthaler’s stressfree directing approach is sensitive and intelligent, and she beautifies her report with atmospheric choral sequences. The play’s premiere is also pure poetry, although the main focus of the film is not the stage but Kienberger’s hospital bed.
Visions du Réel Nyon 2009

Sarah Derendinger

2010 HERZBEUTEL
2009 FAMILIENTREFFEN - MARTHALER THEATER IM GRAND HOTEL
2009 BLUMENZIMMER
2001-2005 CAFE BALE (TV-Serie)
2001-2005 LÜTHI & BLANC (TV-Serie)
2001 DIE BEULE
1992 FAHRT INS GRÜNE
1990 SPLITSCH SPLATSCH ROSENGEWITTER

News

Selected Films Solothurn Film Festival Sunday January 24th 2010-01-24
FAMILIENTREFFEN - MARTHALER THEATER IM GRANDHOTEL by Sarah Derendiger 2010-01-18
FAMILIENTREFFEN - MARTHALER THEATER IM GRANDHOTEL von Sarah Derendiger auf SF1 2009-05-03
Palmarès Visions du Réel Nyon 2009 2009-04-29
Films suisses au Festival Visions du Réel Nyon le vendredi 24 avril 2009-04-24

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