July 2012, arsenal cinema

Book Presentation: Schriften zum Kino (Writings on the Cinema)

Karsten Witte (Foto: Ulrike Ottinger)

Karsten Witte, one of the most important German film journalists of the 20th century, stands for a form of cultural-historical and aesthetic thought that is ripe for rediscovery. The book "Schriften zum Kino" published by Vorwerk 8 makes a cross section of characteristic texts as well as previously unpublished manuscripts available once again. The selection concentrates on essays, film reviews and articles on post-1945 European film culture as well as sections dedicated to Japanese and African cinema respectively. The texts show the broad spectrum of Witte’s work and in their entirety show how he saw cinema itself as a means of creating or writing history. The book presentation will be followed by the seldom seen film Schwarzer Kies (West Germany 1960/61) presented by Helmut Käutner. (July 12)