Film Restored – Filmvorführung ‘The House – 1984’

MISSION: EDUCATION

›The House – 1984‹, GDR, 1984, directed by Thomas Heise 

OV 

Original format: 16 mm, 1:1.37, bw 

Screening print: DCP, 70 min, Bundesarchiv, Berlin

‘The House – 1984’ was commissioned by the former East German state documentary division, which produced archival films to document everyday life in the country. Director Heise had to break off his film studies at Potsdam-Babelsberg after his film ‘Why Make a Movie About People Like Them?’ (1980) ran afoul of the East German authorities. With ‘The House – 1984’, Heise had the opportunity to realize uncensored his tack of allowing his subjects to speak freely, and captur- ing even non-conformist utterings. Shot with minimal equip- ment and with no narration, the discussions sometimes reveal harsh societal grievances.

The original 16mm camera negative was scanned in 2K resolution using a Scanity HDR wet gate film scanner. The black and white grading was done in cooperation with the cinematographer Peter Badel. No prints were ever made, meaning that no reference material was available for the grading process. Cooperation with the cinematogra- pher was essential for a faithful restoration.

Film talk: Thomas Heise

→ Tickets: 8,50 €