Intro

The Films of Ulrich Seidl (September - October 2008)

“I don’t seek to entertain people with my films, but to touch them, perhaps even disturb them. My films are critical not of individual people but of society... I want the people in the theatre to be confronted with themselves.”  Ulrich Seidl

To mark the October release of his latest feature Import/Export, a powerful portrait of contemporary Europe, this retrospective of Seidl’s documentary and feature work showcases the development of one of Europe’s most distinctive and provocative cinematic voices.

Likened to Fassbinder, Pasolini and Herzog, Seidl investigates the dark corners and crevices of society not as a voyeur, but actively engaging the camera and the audience as participants in his staging of reality. Dispassionate, often shocking but always deeply humanistic, the films are linked by a rigorously composed visual style and an unrelenting drive for authenticity.

This site aims to provide further information about Ulrich Seidl and his films, including an original interview with the director, clips of the films and information on where to see them.

Between Heaven and Hell: the Films of Ulrich Seidl will premiere with a selection of films at the Cambridge Film Festival (Thu 18 to Sun 28 Sept) before its run at Watershed. It will then go on to tour independent cinemas throughout the UK and Ireland this autumn. Details of the venues taking part and the programmes being screened can be found here.

As part of this retrospective of the Austrian auteur's distinctive and provocative work, Ulrich Seidl visited Watershed to discuss his filmmaking and to introduce a special preview of Import/Export. To see a recording of this Director Q&A please visit: dshed.net/talks/ulrich_seidl