Jean-Marie Straub and Danièle Huillet

To Make the Revolution Also Means to Put Back Into Place Things that Are Very Ancient But Forgotten

October 7 - November 22, 2016
Jean-Marie Straub. Kommunisten. Film, 2014
Jean-Marie Straub. Kommunisten. Film, 2014
Itinerary

CGAI-Filmoteca de Galicia (December 29, 2016 - February 22, 2017)

TABAKALERA - Centro Internacional de Cultura Contemporánea, Donostia / San Sebastián (January 13 - March 31, 2017)

Filmoteca Cantabria (August 30, 2017 - October 1, 2017)

La Filmoteca - Institut Valencià de Cultura (January 9, 2018 - February 7, 2018)

NUMAX, S. Coop. Galega (February 6, 2018 - December, 2018)

Organized by
Museo Reina Sofía
In collaboration with
Filmoteca Española
Curatorship
Chema González and Manuel Asín

Museo Reina Sofía presents, in collaboration with Filmoteca Española, a comprehensive retrospective on the film-makers Jean-Marie Straub and Danièle Huillet. The series, comprising works spanning from 1962 to the present day, reflects one of the most cohesive and relevant film projects in the 20th century, whereby cinema is both an artistic form and a way of politically bursting forth in the present. Engaging in dialogue with Jean-Marie Straub, the series includes new translations of the vast majority of the films, original format screenings, remastered copies, a significant number of premieres in Spain, and a new publication featuring essays on the film-makers.

Jean-Marie Straub and Danièle Huillet are a key reference point in the field of cinema and contemporary art. Distantly inseparable in one part of the French Nouvelle Vague (Rivette, Godard, Moullet) and on the margins of New German Cinema, the production of their early films was divided between Germany, Italy and France, characterising a filmography shot in three countries and in different languages. This trait would not only distinguish the scope of their work in the aesthetic and political debates at the time, it would also set out a profound reflection on history, identity and European borders.

The poetics of Straub-Huillet adhere to the technical origins of film, whilst also readying us for a new relationship with the world’s sounds and images. Their work, like that of those they greatly admired - Cézanne, Griffith, Mallarmé, Chaplin and Schoenberg - opens up new pathways. Both figure among those to have obdurately reformulated what a new art, an art that starts, could become, while retracing a brief history of film before moving back to the point that is transformed in its inception. In the origins of their films we find artistic works – dramas, novels, music, music scores and paintings – rather than scripts, works that the directors reappropriate, uproot from their cultural contexts (Classical Antiquity, the Ancien Régime, the French Revolution, the Paris Commune, post-war Europe…), and place in the present as a critical event; they are destined not to be translated into a new language, but to be received and interpreted as an emancipatory tool for their new audiences. In the films of Straub-Huillet texts, works and images form a sequence that describes a revolutionary pedagogy of culture and history throughout time.

Following the death of Danièle Huillet in 2006, Jean-Marie Straub continues to work, upholding filmic poetics such as rupture and revelation, with his recent films, some of which will be shown for the first time in Spain in this film season. These works demonstrate social conflicts, citizen repression and the violence of power as they continue to explore the limits of representation on a political and artistic level.

Programa

Jean-Marie Straub. Kommunisten (Communists). Film, 2014
Actividad pasada Friday, October 7 / Museo Reina Sofía. Nouvel Building, Auditorium 400 - 7:00 p.m.
Opening session

Communists (Kommunisten, 2014, 70 min., HD archive)
The Algerian War! (La Guerre d'Algérie!, 2014, 2 min., HD archive)
With introduction of Giorgio Passerone, Christophe Claver and the curators of the series. Due to health reasons, the presence of Jean-Marie Straub is canceled.

Jean-Marie Straub and Danièle Huillet. Chronik der Anna Magdalena Bach (Chronicle of Anna Magdalena Bach). Film, 1968
Actividad pasada Saturday, October 8 / Museo Reina Sofía, Auditorio Sabatini - 7:00 p.m.
Session 1

Chronicle of Anna Magdalena Bach (Chronik der Anna Magdalena Bach, 1968, 93 min., HD archive)
Introduction: José Luis Téllez

Jean-Marie Straub and Danièle Huillet. Machorka-Muff. Film, 1963
Actividad pasada Sunday, October 9 and Tuesday, October 25 / Filmoteca Española, Cine Doré. Sala 1 - 7:30 p.m.
Sesión 2

Machorka-Muff (1963, 18 min., DCP)
Not Reconciled or Only Violence Helps Where Violence Rules (Nicht versöhnt oder Es hilft nur Gewalt, wo Gewalt herrscht, 1965, 55 min., DCP)

Jean-Marie Straub and Danièle Huillet. Othon. Film, 1970
Actividad pasada Tuesday, October 11 - 9:30 p.m. and Sunday, October 16, 5:30 p.m. / Filmoteca Española, Cine Doré. Sala 1
Session 3

Eyes Do Not Want to Close at All Times or Perhaps One Day Rome Will Permit Herself to Choose in Her Turn (Othon) (Les yeux ne veulent pas en tout temps se fermer ou Peut-être qu'un jour Rome se permettra de choisir à son tour (Othon), 1970, 88 min., DCP)

Jean-Marie Straub and Danièle Huillet. Der Bräutigam, die Komödiantin und der Zuhälter (The Bridegroom, the Actress and the Pimp). Film, 1968
Actividad pasada Thursday, October 13 / Museo Reina Sofía, Sabatini Building, Auditorium - 7:00 p.m.
Session 4

The Bridegroom, the Actress and the Pimp (Der Bräutigam, die Komödiantin und der Zuhälter, 1968, 23 min., HD archive) 
Every Revolution Is a Throw of the Dice (Toute révolution est un coup de dés, 1977, 10 min., HD archive)
Introduction: Paulino Viota

Jean-Marie Straub and Danièle Huillet. Geschichtsunterricht (History Lessons). Film, 1972
Actividad pasada Friday, October 14 / Museo Reina Sofía, Sabatini Building, Auditorium - 7:00 p.m.
Session 5

History Lessons (Geschichtsunterricht, 1972, 85 min., HD archive)

Jean-Marie Straub and Danièle Huillet. Einleitung zu Arnold Schoenbergs Begleitmusik zu einer Lichtspielscene (Introduction to Arnold Schoenburg’s “Accompaniment to a Cinematic Scene”). Película, 1972
Actividad pasada Saturday, October 15 / Filmoteca Española, Cine Doré. Sala 1 - 9:45 p.m.
Session 6

Introduction to Arnold Schoenburg’s “Accompaniment to a Cinematic Scene” (Einleitung zu Arnold Schoenbergs Begleitmusik zu einer Lichtspielscene, 1973, 15 min., DCP)
Moses and Aaron (Moses und Aron, 1975, 105 min., DCP)

Jean-Marie Straub and Danièle Huillet. Schakale und Araber (Jackals and Arabs). Film, 2011
Actividad pasada Wednesday, October 19 - 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, October 23 - 9:30 p.m. / Filmoteca Española, Cine Doré. Sala 1
Session 7

Jackals and Arabs (Schakale und Araber, 2011, 11 min., DCP) 
Fortini/Cani (Fortini/Cani, 1976, 83 min., DCP)

Jean-Marie Straub and Danièle Huillet. Dalla nube alla resistenza (From the Cloud to the Resistance). Film, 1979
Actividad pasada Thursday, October 20 / Museo Reina Sofía, Sabatini Building, Auditorium - 7:00 p.m.
Session 8

From the Cloud to the Resistance (Dalla nube alla resistenza, 1979, 105 min., HD archive)
Introduction: Ana Useros and Miriam Martín

Jean-Marie Straub and Danièle Huillet. Zu früh, zu spät (Too Early, Too Late). Film, 1981
Actividad pasada Friday, October 21 / Museo Reina Sofía, Sabatini Building, Auditorium - 7:00 p.m.
Session 9

Too Early, Too Late (Zu früh, zu spät — Trop tôt, trop tard — Troppo presto, troppo tardi, 1981, 100 min., HD archive)

Jean-Marie Straub and Danièle Huillet. Klassenverhältnisse (Class Relations). Film, 1984
Actividad pasada Saturday, October 22 - 7:00 p.m. and Tuesday, November 22 - 7:30 p.m. / Filmoteca Española, Cine Doré. Sala 1
Session 10

En Rachâchant (1983, 7 min., 35 mm)
Class Relations (Klassenverhältnisse, 1984, 130 min., 35 mm)

Jean-Marie Straub y Danièle Huillet. Der Tod des Empedokles oder Wenn dann der Erde grün von neuem euch ergläntz (The Death of Empedocles or When the Green of the Earth Will Glisten for You Anew). Film, 1987
Actividad pasada Wednesday, October 26. Filmoteca Española, Cine Doré. Sala 2, 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, October 30, Sala 1, 7:30 p.m.
Session 11

The Death of Empedocles or When the Green of the Earth Will Glisten for You Anew (Der Tod des Empedokles oder Wenn dann der Erde grün von neuem euch ergläntz, 1987, 132 min., 35 mm)

Jean-Marie Straub and Danièle Huillet. Proposta in quattro parti (Proposition in Four Parts). Film, 1985
Actividad pasada Thursday, October 27 / Museo Reina Sofía, Sabatini Building, Auditorium - 7:00 p.m.
Session 12

Proposition in Four Parts (Proposta in quattro parti, 1985, 41 min., HD archive)

Jean-Marie Straub and Danièle Huillet. Cézanne. Dialogue avec Joachim Gasquet (Cézanne. Dialogue avec Joachim Gasquet). Film, 1990
Actividad pasada Friday, October 28 / Museo Reina Sofía, Sabatini Building, Auditorium - 7:00 p.m.
Session 13

Cézanne. Conversation with Joachim Gasquet (Cézanne. Dialogue avec Joachim Gasquet, 1990, 51 min., 35 mm)
A Visit to the Louvre (Une visite au Louvre, 2004, 48 min., 35 mm)
Introduction: Natalia Ruiz

 Jean-Marie Straub and Danièle Huillet. Schwarze Sünde (Black Sin). Film, 1989
Actividad pasada Saturday, October 29. Filmoteca Española, Cine Doré. Sala 1 - 7:30 p.m. and Tuesday, November 8, Sala 2 - 9:00 p.m.
Session 14

Black Sin (Schwarze Sünde, 1989, 42 min., 35 mm)
Introduction: Manuel Asín

Jean-Marie Straub and Danièle Huillet. Die Antigone des Sophokles nach der Hölderlinschen Übertragung für die Bühne bearbeitet von Brecht 1948 (The Antigone of Sophocles After Hölderlin’s Translation Adapted for the Stage by Brecht 1948). Film, 1992
Actividad pasada Wednesday, November 2 - 5:30 p.m. / Filmoteca Española, Cine Doré. Sala 1 and Sunday, November 6 - 8:00 p.m. / Filmoteca Española, Cine Doré. Sala 2
Session 15

The Antigone of Sophocles After Hölderlin’s Translation Adapted for the Stage by Brecht 1948 (Die Antigone des Sophokles nach der Hölderlinschen Übertragung für die Bühne bearbeitet von Brecht 1948, 1992, 100 min., 35 mm)

Jean-Marie Straub and Danièle Huillet. Von heute auf morgen (From Today until Tomorrow). Film, 1997
Actividad pasada Thursday, November 3 / Museo Reina Sofía, Sabatini Building, Auditorium - 7:00 p.m.
Session 16

From Today until Tomorrow (Von heute auf morgen, 1997, 62 min., 35 mm, original version with French subtitles)

Jean-Marie Straub and Danièle Huillet. Sicilia! Film, 1998
Actividad pasada Friday, November 4 / Museo Reina Sofía, Sabatini Building, Auditorium - 19:00 h
Session 17

Sicilia! (1998, 66 min., 35 mm, original version with French subtitles)
Introduction: Santos Zunzunegui

Jean-Marie Straub and Danièle Huillet. Operai, contadini (Workers, Peasants). Film, 2001
Actividad pasada Saturday, November 5 - 7:00 p.m. and Tuesday, November 15 - 7:30 h / Filmoteca Española, Cine Doré. Sala 1
Session 18

The Wayfarer (Il viandante, 2001, 5 min., DCP)
The Knife Sharpener (L’arrotino, 2001, 7 min., DCP)
Workers, Peasants (Operai, contadini, 2001, 123 min., 35 mm)

Jean-Marie Straub and Danièle Huillet. Dolando. Film, 2003
Actividad pasada Tuesday, November 8 - 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, November 13 - 9:30 p.m. / Filmoteca Española, Cine Doré. Sala 1
Session 19

The Return of the Prodigal Son (Il ritorno del figlio prodigo, 2003, 29 min., 35 mm original version with French subtitles)
Humiliated: That Nothing Produced or Touched by Them, Coming From their Hands, Proves Free from the Claim of Some Stranger (Workers, Peasants— Continuation and End) (Umiliati: che niente di fatto o toccato da loro, di uscito dalle mani loro, risultasse esente dal diritto di qualche estraneo (Operai, contadini — seguito e fine), 2003, 35 min., 35 mm, original version with French subtitles)
Dolando (2003, 7 min., DCP)

Jean-Marie Straub and Danièle Huillet. Quei loro incontri (These Encounters of Theirs). Film, 2006
Actividad pasada Thursday, November 10 / Museo Reina Sofía, Sabatini Building, Auditorium - 7:00 p.m.
Session 20

Incantati (2003, 6 min., HD archive)
These Encounters of Theirs (Quei loro incontri, 2006, 68 min., 35 mm)

Jean-Marie Straub and Danièle Huillet. Europa 2005, 27 octobre (Europa 2005, 27 October). Film, 2006
Actividad pasada Friday, November 11 / Museo Reina Sofía, Sabatini Building, Auditorium - 7:00 p.m.
Session 21

Europa 2005, 27 October (Europa 2005, 27 octobre, 2006, 11 min., HD archive)
Joachim Gatti (2009, 1 min. 30 sec., HD archive)
Corneille-Brecht or Rome, the Only Object of My Resentment (Corneille-Brecht ou Rome, l'unique objet de mon resentiment, 2009, 27 min., HD archive)
Oh, Supreme Light (O somma luce, 2010, 18 min., HD archive)
Introduction: Jenaro Talens

Jean-Marie Straub. The Witches / Women Among Themselves (Las brujas / Mujeres entre ellas). Película, 2009
Actividad pasada Saturday, November 12 / Filmoteca Española, Cine Doré. Sala 1 - 7:30 p.m.
Session 22

Artemide’s Knee (Le Genou d'Artémide, 2008, 26 min., 35 mm)
The Witches / Women Among Themselves (Le streghe — Femmes entre elles, 2009, 21 min., 35 mm)
The Inconsolable One (L'Inconsolable, 2011, 15 min., DCP)
The Mother (2012, 19 min., DCP)

Jean-Marie Straub. Itinéraire de Jean Bricard (Itinerary of Jean Bricard). Film, 2008
Actividad pasada Wednesday, November 16 - 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, November 20 - 15:30 p.m. / Filmoteca Española, Cine Doré. Sala 1
Session 23

Lothringen! (1994, 21 min., 35 mm)
Itinerary of Jean Bricard (Itinéraire de Jean Bricard, 2008, 40 min., 35 mm)
An Heir (Un héritier, 2011, 20 min., DCP)
Concerning Venice (History Lessons) (À propos de Venise (Geschichtsunterricht), 2014, 23 min., DCP)

 Jean-Marie Straub. Un conte de Michel de Montaigne (A Tale by Michel de Montaigne ). Film, 2013
Actividad pasada Thursday, November 17 / Museo Reina Sofía, Sabatini Building, Auditorium - 7:00 p.m.
Session 24

A Tale by Michel de Montaigne (Un conte de Michel de Montaigne, 2013, 34 min., HD archive)
Dialogue of Shadows (Dialogue d'ombres, 2014, 28 min., HD archive)

Jean-Marie Straub. La Guerre d'Algérie! (The Algerian War!). Film, 2014
Actividad pasada Friday, November 18 / Museo Reina Sofía, Sabatini Building, Auditorium - 7:00 p.m.
Session 25

Communists (Kommunisten, 2014, 70 min., HD archive)
The Algerian War! (La Guerre d'Algérie!, 2014, 2 min., HD archive)

Jean-Marie Straub. L’Aquarium et la nation (The Aquarium and the Nation). Film, 2015
Actividad pasada Saturday, November 19 - 7:30 p.m. and Tuesday, November 22, 10:00 p.m. / Filmoteca Española, Cine Doré. Sala 1
Session 26

The Aquarium and the Nation (L’Aquarium et la nation, 2015, 31 min., DCP)
Introduction: Albert Serra (November 19 only)