Filmpunkt GmbH
Thomas Riedelsheimer
und Stefan Tolz
Goltsteinstr. 28-30
50968 Köln
0221 800 471 32
info(at)filmpunkt.com
Seelenvögel
with Pauline, Richard and Lenni
a film by Thomas Riedelsheimer
For 15-year old Pauline, 10-year old Richard and 6-year old Lenni, life means something very special. They suffer from leukemia and they are facing death. Pauline writes poems, Richard knows everything about his disease and Lenni ´s charm fills any room. Three strong young people with all their plans, hopes, triumphs and defeats. An unsusual cinematic approach to a situation that is not all about the disease but instead the search for life’s energy and power.
Director´s statement
Some time ago I spent an evening with several nurses and physicians who care for seriously ill and dying children. The charisma of these women deeply touched and impressed me. There was something powerful, essential and fundamental about them. It was as if the dying children had left them something. This energy became my topic. Seelenvögel (Soul Birds) is a very special film for me – in all respects. The way I was able to make it over a period of three years, and of course there was the topic “children threatened by death”. A situation that is not supposed to happen, that everyone is frightened of and prefers to pretend doesn’t exist. I have two children myself and sometimes I could only cope with the events in the film by concentrating on my role as filmmaker. Nevertheless, at the end of the three years, I have not been left feeling frustrated or depressed. There is a feeling of power and energy that I have been given by those kids. I believe this film is able to communicate this to anyone who sees it.
Seelenvögel
DVCPro HD
© Filmpunkt GmbH
Germany 2009
directing, camera, editing
Thomas Riedelsheimer
director´s assistant and sound
Anna Brass
music
Marina Schlagintweit
André Buttler
Max Hundelshausen
Elischa Kaminer
production of music
Winfried Grabe
producers
Thomas Riedelsheimer, Stefan Tolz
commissioning editor
Jutta Krug, WDR
production
Filmpunkt GmbH
in coproduction with WDR
and with support of
Beauftragter der Bundesregierung
für Kultur und Medien