Films A to Z

Dorian Gray im Spiegel der Boulevardpresse

Runtime:
151 min.
Year of Production:
1984
Country:
Federal Rep. Germany
Director:
Cast:
Veruschka von Lehndorff
Delphine Seyrig
Tabea Blumenschein
Toyo Tanaka
Irm Hermann
Magdalena Montezuma
Production Company:
Berlinale Section:
Retrospective

Frau Dr Mabuse, boss of an international media conglomerate, needs to boost circulation. She has decided to create an artificial character who will fulfil all her readers’ dreams, only to then destroy him before their very eyes. She chooses Dorian Gray. Dr Mabuse takes the rich, narcissistic dandy to the opera, where he falls in love with singer Andamana. He also cuts a dashing figure at the Press Ball, and on a journey through the underworld, with the coverage all the while earning Dr Mabuse tidy profits. But then this modern homunculus turns on his creator … Unlike her androgynous film hero, Ulrike Ottinger was definitely in attendance when “subversive aesthetics” was on the curriculum. Her futuristic media satire combines avant-garde art and triviality, underground and world cultures, video techniques and voodoo, all into a kind of world theatre, where all the hardened expectations of social and sex roles are thwarted with relish. In 1984, director Ottinger said, “for me, an emancipated society would mean that nobody would be subjected to expectations of their roles any more. Then there would be no more defamation of minorities”.

BIOGRAFIE Ulrike Ottinger

Born in Konstanz, Germany in 1942. She worked as a painter and photographer in Paris from 1962-1968. She founded the “Visuell” film club in Konstanz in 1969, and led it until 1972; she also founded “galeriepress” art gallery and press. She has lived in Berlin since 1973. Alongside her film work she also produces operas and theatre and is present on the international scene with photo exhibitions.

FILMOGRAFIE Ulrike Ottinger (selection)

2019 Paris Calligrammes  2016 Chamissos Schatten  2012 Ulrike Ottinger - die Nomadin vom See  2011 Unter Schnee  2008 Die Koreanische Hochzeitruhe  2007 Prater  2004 12 Stühle  2002 Südostpassage  1997 Exil Shanghai  1992 Taiga. Eine Reise ins nördliche Land der Mongolen  1990 Countdown  1989 Johanna d'Arc of Mongolia  1987 Usinimage  1986 Superbia  1985 China. Die Künste  1984 Dorian Gray im Spiegel der Boulevardpresse  1981 Freak Orlando  1979 Bildnis einer Trinkerin  1977 Madame X - Eine absolute Herrscherin   1975 Die Betörung der Blauen Matrosen  1973 Laokoon & Söhne  1973 Berlinfieber 

Ulrike Ottinger IMDb
Website of Ulrike Ottinger

back to overview