Dir: EDGAR REITZ | Cast: Lars Eidinger, Barbara Sukowa, Aenne Schwarz, Michael Kranz | Germany, Drama 104′
This painterly costume drama from Heimat director Edgar Reitz, now 92, sheds light on the German philosopher and mathematician Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (1646-1716) whose ideas and invention of calculus enlightened the 17th and early 18th centuries.
The film opens with a tearful tete-a-tete between Queen Charlotte of Prussia and her mother where she shares her admiration for her philosophy teacher, and how much she misses his valuable wisdom. Leibniz grants Charlotte’s wish of having his portrait painted in lasting memory of their time together
Two painters rise to the occasion, the first is Pierre Albert Delalandre (Lars Eidinger) who fails to impress the great man. Only female Dutch artist Aaltje van der Meer (Anne Schwarz) is able to convince Leibniz with her sharp intellect and appreciation of his work and these portrait sittings unfold in a series of inspired debates between painter and sitter. Exquisitely captured in candlelight the drama glows delicately in Matthias Grunsky’s camerawork and Renate Schmaderer’s atmospheric set designs.
Due to a twist of fate, Charlotte never got to appreciate the portrait, recognised as a masterpiece of Baroque painting. It is still lost to this day. An intelligent and valuable addition to Reitz’ filmography @MeredithTaylor
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