14/05/2007

After The Lives of Others [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Florian Henckel von Donners…
interview: Ulrich Muehe
film profile], Martina Gedeck once again plays an artist and the companion of an artist. Cult film director Helma Sanders-Brahms (German Film Prize for The Beach Under the Pavement in 1975 and Heinrich in 1977) has cast her as Schumann’s wife in the eponymous film Clara.

Written by the director, the film is being co-produced by her own outfit and Integral Film with French and Hungarian partners and backing from the NRW regional fund (€950,000).

Clara recounts Robert and Clara Schumann’s arrival in Düsseldorf, where the great composer moved to direct the city’s concerts in the second half of the 19th century. The couple meet Johannes Brahms, who wins their esteem, but when Clara falls in love with the young composer Schumann is plunged into despair.

Schumann and Brahms will be played by French actors Pascal Greggory (The Page Turner [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Denis Dercourt
interview: Michel Saint-Jean
film profile], La Vie en Rose [+see also:
trailer
film profile]) and Malik Zidi (2007 Cesar for Best Male Newcomer with Poison Friends [+see also:
trailer
film profile]).

(Translated from French)