ULRIKE OTTINGER: CINEMA ARTIST, CINEMA REBEL

"A screening series exploring the works of auteur and iconoclast Ulrike Ottinger, whose daring films often defy genre as they explore themes of identity, gender, and cultural displacement."

“Watching her films is like traveling through an undiscovered country of marvels, a journey alternately dazzling, infuriating, hilarious, and rewarding.”

—Leslie Camhi, Village Voice

“Eccentrics are our last heroes, and in our times it is so difficult to be an eccentric.”

—Ulrike Ottinger (1989)

Iconoclastic German filmmaker Ulrike Ottinger is known for her distinctive approach to narrative and visual storytelling, often blending surrealism, feminism, and political critique in her genre-defying works. Her films, which she usually writes, shoots, produces, and production designs herself, explore themes of identity, gender, and cultural displacement, frequently blurring the lines between documentary and fiction for a truly singular voice in the history of independent filmmaking. Once claiming that “we [meaning herself, Jean Genet, and Rainer Werner Fassbinder] make the originals, other people make the wallpaper,” Ottinger’s work is marked by its vivid imagery and use of bold, stylized visuals that reflect a deep interest in cultural representation and the interrogation of myth. Notable works like Paris Calligrammes (2020), an autobiographical reflection on the artistic and intellectual climate of 1960s Paris, and Freak Orlando (1981)—a feminist reimagining of Tod Browning’s Freaks (1932)—exemplify her ability to create immersive, visually arresting worlds that challenge conventional narratives. Ottinger’s films often feature strong, complex female protagonists navigating oppressive societal structures, positioning her as an important figure in both European cinema and the broader feminist filmmaking movement that came to life in the 1970s.

Ottinger will join us for four programs this September to discuss her trajectory as an artist, her approach to crafting images, and her visionary eye for color and mise-en-scène.

Programmed and notes by K.J. Relth-Miller.

(source/Quote: Homepage Academy Museum of Motion Pictures)

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