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By Christian Howard, Student at University of Dallas The Dallas Goethe Center hosted its first film in the 2011-2012 Goethe Center Film Series on Sunday, October 2 at the Dallas Museum of Art. The film, “Ludwig II: The Splendor and Suffering of a King,” was a romantic portrayal of the life of King Ludwig, the mad Bavarian “fairy-tale” king and builder of the famous Neuschwanstein castle (among others). The film emphasized Ludwig’s enchantment with the arts, particularly highlighting his friendship with composer Richard Wagner. After the movie, discussion was led by University of Dallas department chair of modern languages, Dr. Jacob-Ivan Eidt, who is also a member of the program committee of the Dallas Goethe Center. The film program participation has grown steadily and over 60 people were in attendance. Audience members ranged from UD students to German immigrant elders. The discussion centered on Ludwig’s contribution to the arts and the idolization of Ludwig among Bavarians, with a lively dialogue between northern and southern German audience members. Future films in this series will show in early 2012. The second
in the series, The King and his Jester (Der König und sein Narr)
[to be screened on January 15] is the story of the Prussian King
Friedrich Wilhelm I and Jacob von Gundling, his “court jester,”
who was president of the Academy of Science. It concerns the
relation between intellect and power--the deep conflicts a scholar
may become involved in when he belongs to the entourage of a
monarch. The final film, showing on April 22, is The Congress
Dances (Der Kongress Tanzt). It is set against the background of
the Congress of Vienna in 1815. A lowly glove maker girl is caught
in a romantic affair with the Russian Tsar as Prince Metternich
weaves his political intrigues in post-Napoleonic Europe.
Updated 20NOV11 1428 CST |