Passion - Between Revolt and Resignation

Christian Labhart / Switzerland / 2019 / International Premiere / 80 min.

synopsis

Deeply personal and openly political, this documentary chronicles the life of activist Christian Labhart who was framed by Bach's oratorio of Matthew's Passion. The film presents a bitter testimony of the futile waiting for major social change, as well as the personified history of anti-establishment activism. A monologue recapitulating the director's life since 1968 across major historical events such as the fall of the Berlin Wall and the 9/11 attacks has been interwoven with quotes from left-wing thinkers from Bertolt Brecht to Slavoj Žižek. Newly shot footage illustrates how their warning theses are gradually being fulfilled in a contemporary public space.

Fifty years ago I began to fight for a better world. Now I switch between revolt and resignation. With these feelings I began a cinematic trip through the jungle of today’s capitalism. Ch. Labhart

biography

The work of Swiss director and activist Christian Labhart (1953) blends an interest in art with an interest in social activism. His films are also often inspired by themes of classical art. He devoted several films to the anthroposophic movement, but his best known film is Appassionata (2012) about a Swiss virtuoso's journey to her native Ukraine and the portrait documentary, Giovanni Segantini: Magic des Lichts (2015).