Michael von Ferraris sheds light on the post-war period in Munich with his film “Ruinenschleicher und Schachterleis” on Sunday at the Wolfratshausen cinema center.
Wolfratshausen – With his third film “Ruinenschleicher und Schachterleis” Michael von Ferrari, together with the team from Muenchen-Zeitreisen.de, documented the childhood memories of 28 contemporary witnesses of the post-war period in Munich. 60 hours of film material became a touching and historically valuable documentation.
Munich after the war: Documentary film “Ruinenschleicher und Schachterleis” in the cinema center
The one-hour film, which will be shown next Sunday in the Wolfratshauser cinema, combines the conversations with the protagonists with historical images and film material. You can see the unimaginable destruction of Munich, the invasion of the American occupiers and the people's hope for a peaceful, democratic future. For Michael von Ferrari it was important to “collect these treasures before they are taken to the grave”. The film is also a warning in these times when right-wing populist parties like the AfD are gaining ground again. Our employee Andrea Weber spoke to the filmmaker.
Mr. von Ferrari, may we first ask about your prominent name? Are you a Munich child or an heir to the Italian sports car manufacturer?
(Laughs). Neither nor. I was born on August 13, 1958 in Wolfratshausen. My father was Eduard von Ferrari, head of surgery at the Wolfratshausen district hospital. He died two months before I was born. I grew up in Hohenschäftlarn and studied urban planning in Berlin when I was 20. I have lived in Munich since 1991 and was an environmental officer in Haar from 1996 to 2017. In 2012 I was diagnosed with Parkinson's.
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You say that so openly and bluntly.
Yes, because I am proud that, thanks to our great team and despite my illness, I was able to shoulder this labor-intensive film project.
The film is called “Ruin Crawler and Schachterleis”. Can you tell us what’s behind the title?
The Ruinenschleicher was a post-war tram line in Munich. Line 37. It was so named because it drove slowly on a winding route through particularly destroyed neighborhoods. I won’t reveal what the “Schachterleis” was. You find out in the film.
How did you come up with the idea of contemporary witness films?
I am a life story collector. I am particularly interested in the dramatic 20th century. I am also an amateur photographer and in 2016 I discovered that you can also film well with my digital camera. Since then I have interviewed almost 100 people. Together with Dr. Lutz Eigel and Angelika Wimbauer, whom I met in 2019 during the Munich cultural driving license, we began interviewing contemporary witnesses in 2021. Professional filmmaker Ursula Ambach helped us with editing and post-production.
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You had conversations in front of the camera with 28 Munich residents. How did they find the trust to tell you their stories?
It was our sensitive way of asking. Everyone was happy that someone was listening to how they played in the rubble as children, lived in poorly repaired ruins, and how the Americans threw candy from the tanks. How the first chocolate tasted and how the Bockerlbahn transported away the rubble. With this film I would like to encourage a dialogue between generations. I hope that grandparents pass on their memories to their grandchildren so that this time is never forgotten. A sequel is planned for next year. Then it's about teenagers, the importance of cinema and the rock'n'roll era.
Info
: Film matinee “Ruinenschleicher und Schachterleis” on Sunday, April 21st; Starts at 11 a.m., Wolfratshausen cinema. Afterwards there will be an opportunity for a conversation with the filmmaker.