The Still Life
by Caren Jeß
Kurpfälzisches Museum
A humanities scholar is standing in front of a painting. A still life. The protagonist is sitting in this still life. Let's call him Frank. He's a prime example of his era – the Biedermeier age. But the nineteenth century is over. We no longer live in a monarchy and we are against authorities. We like to have our own opinion! What do you say, Frank? But what has remained from our withdrawal into the private sphere? Sofa lounges have regained the love of the middle classes as a place of retreat – even before the pandemic, all the more so now. Also, aren't we seeing a resurgence of the prim and proper? There's a fire raging outside and no-one's raising their fists. Why is everyone tired of politics, why the fear to finally change things that so urgently need to be changed? When will the struggle begin to shift what needs to be shifted? Probably when it's too late. Isn't it already? Caren Jeß dissects societal change and its side effects. »The struggle for greater justice is biding its time in the headlock of reactionary conditions. People change their clothes every now and then, but inside they stay the same.«
»The Still Life« will be premiered as part of Remmidemmi. The Resistance Festival and can be seen on 7., 8. and 9. October 2022 at Route 1: Boycotters.
Der Festivalpodcast »Remmidemmi/Hinterbühne« gibt Einblicke in die Köpfe hinter den Stücken.
Im Gespräch beim Podcast #03: Caren Jeß, Michael Letmathe und Tuğsal Moğul
Trailer by Siegersbusch Film