City Empires

For a discussion with Rem Koolhaas at the Centre Pompidou entitled “Architecte et cinéaste” in April 1998, Kramer compiled scenes from ROUTE ONE/USA (1989), DIESEL (1985), À TOUTE ALLURE (1982), BERLIN 10/90 (1991), SOUS LE VENT (1991) and GHOSTS OF ELECTRICITY (1997). CITY EMPIRES shows cities and spaces in their dialectic of freedom and imprisonment, architectures of today, yesterday and tomorrow. In the same year, Kramer began work on CITÉS DE LA PLAINE, his last film. An urban planner from EuraLille is part of the ensemble of characters, while the spaces, forms and times blur into a dense, dream-like fabric with seamless transitions between different places as well as the present and the past. A cinematic stream of consciousness structured as a series of flashbacks that are constantly reconfigured in the mind of Ben, the blind protagonist. From Kramer’s notes: “The blind man is an old man in a black hole, and like a black hole, this place is of a tremendous density and is only illuminated by harsh streams of white light.” (Volker Pantenburg)

With: CITÉS DE LA PLAINE (CITIES OF THE PLAIN).

All retrospective films that will be shown at the Filmmuseum after the Viennale - from 30.10. - can of course also be reserved as usual at filmmuseum.at or by calling 01/533 70 54 and purchased at the box office of the Austrian Film Museum. The prices of the Austrian Film Museum apply.

Robert Kramer (selection): IN THE COUNTRY (1967), THE EDGE (1968), ICE (1969), MILESTONES (1975), SCENES FROM THE CLASS STRUGGLE IN PORTUGAL (1977), GUNS (1980), NOTRE NAZI (1984), DOC'S KINGDOM (1987), X-COUNTRY. BEING A WEDDING BETWEEN US AND THE FARABUNDO MARTÍ LIBERATION FRONT IN PRESIDENT MONROE’S OLD HOUSE (1987/2022), ROUTE ONE/USA (1989), VIDÉOLETTRES ROBERT KRAMER / STEPHEN DWOSKIN (1991), WALK THE WALK (1996), CITÉS DE LA PLAINE (2000)