NIGHT IN OLYMPIA
EXPERIMENTAL FILM, 8MM, 40 MINUTES, 2009
IN A SHORT SEQUENCE OF A DOCUMENTARY FILM ABOUT THE HOSTAGE TAKING AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES IN MUNICH 1972, TIMO SCHIERHORN DISCOVERS A MAN ON THE CINEMA SCREEN THAT IS SIMILAR TO A PICTURE OF HIS FATHER IN A FAMILY PHOTO. FURTHERMORE THE FILMMAKER LEARNS THAT HIS FATHER, WHO HAD DIED YOUNG, HAD WORKED AS A BGS OFFICIAL AT THE OLYMPICS. ADDITIONALLY, IN TALKING TO OLD FRIENDS HE FINDS OUT THAT HIS FATHER WAS GIVEN THE NAME "ONKEL LUTEN", WHEN HE WAS MIMICKING HIS OWN FATHER.
FOR THE FILM, "NIGHT IN OLYMPIA", SCHIERHORN SLIPS INTO THE ROLL OF THIS ARTIFICIAL FIGURE WHOSE STAGED BIOGRAPHY INVESTIGATES THE MECHANISMS OF MEMORY AND CAPTURES, THAT WHICH HAS BEEN FORGOTTEN, IN IMAGES. AGAIN AND AGAIN OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS SCHIERHORN HAS ENCOURAGED HIS CIRCLE OF ACQUAINTANCES TO RE-ENACT EVERY-DAY SCENES OF HIS PARENTS, FROM THEIR SMALL TOWN, BETWEEN 1972 AND 1980 -- SIMILAR TO THE OF FOLLOWERS OF LIVING HISTORY RE-ENACTMENTS. THIS SEMI AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL FILM COMBINES SUPER 8 FOUND-FOOTAGE DOCUMENTARY SEQUENCES WITH STAGED SCENES, WHICH PROVIDE FILMIC LINKS TO THE HOME MOVIE MEMORIES. THE TIES BETWEEN PRIVATE FILMS AUCTIONED ON EBAY AND THE SMALL FILM DOCUMENTARY PERFORMANCES, TRY TO PLAY TWO GENRES AGAINST ONE ANOTHER: THE HOME AND ART MOVIE.
VOICE: JO KAPPL
RÜDIGER: MICHAEL SCHREINER
ONKEL LUTEN: TIMO SCHIERHORN
FRAU: ANNEKATRIN SCHÜTZ
DIRECTOR: TIMO SCHIERHORN
DOP: THOMAS OSWALD
PRODUCTION DESIGN: AZIZAH HOCKE
SOUND: CHRISTINE SCHULZ
SOUNDDESIGN & SOUND MIXING: CHRISTIAN MEVS / SONNENSEITE STUDIOS
3D-ANIMATION & TITLE DESIGN: ULF GROOTE
PRODUCER: TIMO SCHIERHORN
