This film reveals, under the image of the provocative, misanthropic Austrian writer whose life was peppered with scandals and altercations, a funny and cheerful character, a "ruthless anarchist".
In this film, Austrian author Thomas Bernhard (1931–1989) talks about his childhood, his youth, his life in Austria, and his coming to terms, as a writer, with all the experiences of dying – his own and those of the culture of his time.
This portrait of the great Austrian writer combines a brilliant monologue delivered by Thomas Bernhard and the artful film work of Ferry Radax. The location chosen for three summer days is a park in Hamburg full of huge old trees. While sitting on a white bench, Bernhard talks about dark childhood memories, his youth, and his struggles with writing. A striking element is his high praise of obstacles as "material for the brain."
Thomas Bernhard rarely engaged in on-camera interviews and conversations. However, he was extremely taken with the television films created by Krista Fleischmann and recognized – both confidently and with foresight – their lasting value for posterity: “I feel this portrait is an entirely successful document whose usefulness will grow.”
Thomas Bernhard in Madrid.
Der Bauer zu Nathal – Kein Film über Thomas Bernhard
Grimme-Preis-Verleihung
"The Century of the Theater" - From the "birth of the director" to the "heroes of modernity" - an overview of the world of theater - illuminates the interaction with the history of the past hundred years is also shown.
