Vision

*10TH BELFAST FILM FESTIVAL* 

One of the major auteurs to emerge from New German Cinema of the 70's, Margarethe von Trotta's new film tells the story of Hildegard who entered a Benedictine Monastery at the age of 8. Taught in the arts of herbal medicine, reading and writing by her mentor Jutta, she quickly excels in a number of disciplines.

Hildegard later becomes the abbess of the convent and by subtly using her intelligence and diplomacy begins to change the laws from the highest level. Since childhood she has had powerful visions that she records. Certain these mystic perceptions are messages from God, she mentions them to her superior, without fear of the obvious scepticism and suspicion of heresy from the Christian order.

Hildegard was the first composer whose life we know about, she was also the first woman to write about female sexuality. Centuries later, masters such as Dante and Leonardo di Vinci were inspired by her works. This is the fifth time that von Trotta has worked with Sukowa and their chemistry together is tangible. Sukowa brings a potent drive to Hildegard; the more resistance she meets, the more radical she becomes.