A Quiet Resistance

Synopsis

Erika and Tine are 81 and have been a couple for 40 years. The two women live on a farm in Brandenburg they restored themselves and look back on eventful lives. In the GDR they both had to fight for personal and artistic freedom and struggled daily with socialism, not to mention its actually existing contradictions. Unlike other GDR creative artists who cracked under the rejection of their art and ideas, they both take a humorous look back today at the manifold documents of their lives, contextualising and contradicting the numerous Stasi files with their own memories, photos, paintings, sculptures and texts. They use the conversations with the young director to take a close look at their own (GDR) past, but also the post-reunification period, the present and future.

What can art do in times of social political challenge? How can one stay true to oneself, art and one’s ideals? Where are women still confronted by structural discrimination today? How can social grievances be resolved together? By staying naturally close to its protagonists, the film manages to achieve an enchantingly lucid narrative about freedom, autonomy, creativity and sociality – and, last but not least, a marvellous ode to love. (DOK Leipzig, Luc-Carolin Ziemann)

An Honourable Mention goes to A QUIET RESISTANCE by Therese Koppe. The touching portrait of two women, creative artists in the GDR, is a memorable affirmation of how a social niche can evolve into a space of individual freedom. (Jury Statement, DOK Leipzig)

Cast & Crew

Director

Therese Koppe
Director of photography

Annegret Sachse
Editor (Cut)

Evelyn Rack
Sound

Billie Mind
Original Score

Irma Heinig

Festivals/awards

2019
Honorable Mention ver.di Prize for Solidarity, Humanity and Fairness — 62 DOK Leipzig
Duisburger Filmwoche
36 Dokfest Kassel

2020
Internationales Frauenfilmfestival Dortmund|Köln
FILMZ – Festival of German Cinema

Film Info

World Sales

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