This Photographer called Leonore Mau

Diese Photographin heißt Leonore Mau

DE 2005/2016

They met at the beginning of the 1960s. Hubert Fichte (1935–1986), the young and ambitious writer who made his homosexuality a matter of principle. And the architectural photographer Leonore Mau (1916–2013), who was tired of middle-class family life. An extraordinary love affair and productive artistic partnership developed, which lasted until Hubert Fichte’s death. (from the blurb on the book: I’ll bite you gently goodbye. Letters to Leonore Mau, edited by Peter Braun, published by S. Fischer Verlag). 

«In May 2005, Leonore gave me two books by Fichte with literary adaptations of dialogues from the early days of their love affair. She said they had everything she wanted to say. I breathed life into the dialogues between Irma & Jäcki and combined them with Mau’s photographs. Still – it wasn’t enough.
Then I discreetly placed the camera in the corner of the room where I worked… 

It took many Sundays before Leonore also took it for granted. So, Sunday after Sunday with a cup of Darjeeling Second Flush, Leonore Mau told me stories from her life. The last recording was made on 29 August 2005.«

Nathalie David was Leonore Mau’s assistant from 1995 until she said goodbye to the world in 2013.


Documentary54 min. (German only)

Featuring: Leonore Mau
Written & Directed by: Nathalie David
Original Score: Ahmad Weiland
Cinematography: Nathalie David
Irma’s Voice: Hildegard Schmahl
Jäcki’s Voice: Dietmar Muess
Voice Recording: Sören Blüthgen, Stefan Gerdes
Sound Design & Mix: Stefan Gerdes
Editor: Nathalie David
Colour Grading: Martin Heckmann
Producer: Nathalie David – PITCHOUNPRODUCTION

Texts by: Hubert Fichte (from Eine glückliche Liebe, Xango, and Hotel Garni)
Photos: ©Domaine Leonore Mau, bpk S. Fischer Fondation
Commissioned & Funded by: S. Fischer Fondation

©Nathalie David – PITCHOUNPRODUCTION & S. Fischer Stiftung 2005/16

Learn more: Leonore Mau

Screenings & Exhibitions

2005: Deichtorhallen, Hamburg
2016:
Historische Museum, Hamburg
Galerie Periferie, Tübingen
Goethe Institut, Porto Alegre, Brazil
2017: Filmwerkstatt, Düsseldorf