Mutter

Anke Engelke is the greatest! While she acts out situations from the everyday life of an actress and housewife (and presumably also a mother - from hanging out the laundry to dress rehearsals to theatrical performances), statements from interviews that the director had conducted with various women about motherhood are put into her mouth and she does the lipsynch with absolute perfection. Lip movements, gestures, a smack or a cough here and there - everything sits just right. And how these monologues were built into Engelke's everyday routine is just bursting with wit and imagination and adds numerous facets to these different narratives, between which there is jumping back and forth - sometimes almost imperceptibly. This is great art and an absolute masterpiece in my view.

No pun intended - minimalistic would be another term one may think of, when watching this. And it is about performances and not appearances (although in a sense that too). Also the way Anke Engelke is able to transform - her exterior self but also vocally. There is a lot to cherish I reckon ... but there is also the chance of this being viewed as ... well mundane.

While it is subtle in a way, it also is quite in your face. Yes the patriarchy ... yes the norms and cliches of everyday life ... yes the struggles to keep juggling many responsibilities ... and yes to many other things. You may like what this does or just be annoyed by it. You may think it is important to show a status quo (that needs to change) ... or not. Again, tough one to rate, tough one to watch - especially because it does feel like it is preaching ... on the other hand it may be necessary. And with performances like that also quite important I assume ...