Volker Schlöndorff, a legendary filmmaker and Cannes regular, reflects on his illustrious career and the impact of his films. With a career spanning decades, Schlöndorff's work has explored the fault lines of European history, from fascism to terrorism and the uneasy compromises between morality and survival. His films, such as 'The Lost Honor of Katharina Blum' and 'The Ninth Day', have traced these themes, often confronting the lingering presence of Nazi and authoritarian ideology in German institutions. Schlöndorff's personal history, shaped by his wartime birth in Germany and his formative years in France, has influenced his worldview and artistic approach. He shares his thoughts on his early period in France, his friendship with Billy Wilder, and the impact of his films on the Cannes festival.
Schlöndorff's relationship with Cannes is a significant part of his career. He arrived at the festival in 1966 with his debut feature, 'Young Törless', which caused an immediate scandal. Despite the initial backlash, he returned repeatedly to the festival, sometimes triumphantly and sometimes less so. His breakthrough came in 1979 with 'The Tin Drum', which shared the Palme d'Or with Francis Ford Coppola's 'Apocalypse Now'. This pairing symbolized the meeting of New German Cinema and New Hollywood at the height of both movements' artistic ambition. 'The Tin Drum' went on to win the Oscar for Best Foreign-Language Film, marking a defining peak in Schlöndorff's career.
Schlöndorff's films often explore the role of the artist under authoritarianism and the fragility of private happiness. His latest film, 'Visitation', set across decades at a lakeside property in Brandenburg, follows successive inhabitants through the Nazi era, East Germany, and reunification. The film traces how political systems reshape ordinary lives, whether their occupants acknowledge it or not. Schlöndorff's personal interpretation of history and politics is evident in his work, and he remains a political animal, deeply engaged in the world around him.
Despite his success and accolades, Schlöndorff speaks with the calm precision of someone who has spent decades arguing about cinema, politics, and history. He shares his thoughts on the unpredictability of a filmmaking life, his experiences with Studio Babelsberg, and his views on political violence and the impact of historical events on individuals. Schlöndorff's perspective is one of reflection and insight, offering a nuanced understanding of the complexities of his work and the world around him.
