Vision (2009)
"Vision - Aus dem Leben der Hildegard von Bingen" (original title)

The life story of the multi-talented German nun Hildegard von Bingen. The film portrays an original woman - best known as a composer and religious visionary - whose grand claims often run ... See full summary »

Director:

Margarethe von Trotta

Writer:

Margarethe von Trotta (screenplay)

Stars:

Barbara Sukowa, Heino Ferch, Hannah Herzsprung

1 win & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Barbara Sukowa	...	Hildegard von Bingen
Heino Ferch	...	Mönch Volmar
Hannah Herzsprung	...	Richardis von Stade
Lena Stolze	...	Jutta
Gerald Alexander Held	...	Abt Kuno (as Alexander Held)
Sunnyi Melles	...	Richardis' Mother
Paula Kalenberg	...	Klara
Devid Striesow	...	Kaiser Friedrich Barbarossa
Annemarie Düringer	...	Äbtissin Tengwich
Mareile Blendl	...	Jutta von Sponheim
Christoph Luser	...	Hartwig von Bremen
Salome Kammer	...	Sängerin
Wolfgang Pregler	...	Bischof von Mainz
Joseph von Westphalen	...	Bernhard von Clairvaux
Stella Holzapfel	...	Hildegard (8 jahre)

Storyline

The life story of the multi-talented German nun Hildegard von Bingen. The film portrays an original woman - best known as a composer and religious visionary - whose grand claims often run counter to the patriarchal world around her. The monks and nuns at the convent become a kind of family, offering both confidants and enemies. For example Jutta, struggling with her jealousy of Hildegard's success, and the young Richardis who worships Hildegard both as an intellectual role model and a mother figure.

---

Plot Keywords:

nun | convent | german | jealousy | monk | 

---

Genres:

Biography | Drama

---

Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Official Sites:

Zeitgiest Films [us]

Country:

Germany France

Language:

German Latin

Release Date:

24 September 2009 (Germany)

Also Known As:

Vision: From the Life of Hildegard Von Bingen

Filming Locations:

Kloster Eberbach, Eltville Am Rhein, Hessen, Germany

Company Credits

Production Co:

ARD Degeto Film, Celluloid Dreams, Clasart Film + TV Produktions GmbH

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

In church the language at the time of Hildegard was Latin. The priests/monks would have spoken everything in Latin.

User Reviews

Worldly biopic about an intensely spiritual woman

'Vision' is a worthy but uninspired biopic about the renowned medieval mystic Hildegard Von Bingen, who was a nun in the Benedictine Order in 12th century Germany. The historical record informs us that she was a formidable and compassionate human being, who discouraged severe ascetic practices, believing that God intended humans to live healthy, contented lives of hard work, charity and spiritual devotion. She became the 'magistra' of her order and eventually founded two convents, writing books on medicine, composing music and teaching her own method of contemplation.

'Vision' chooses to focus chiefly on various intrigues within Hildegard's cloistered world of nuns, monks and bishops, as well as the nobility who provided financial backing for religious orders. No doubt there was some jealousy within that environment which obstructed her various endeavors, but Hildegard was a respected figure in 12th century Germany, traveling widely on preaching tours at a time when women were traditionally banned from such pursuits. Hildegard's contemplative disciplines and spiritual insights were crucial aspects of her life's work, but being difficult to film, they are pretty much ignored in favor of her worldly activities. The acting and cinematography are sufficiently competent for the task at hand, but anyone hoping to learn something profound about Hildegard's esoteric philosophy from 'Vision' is likely to be disappointed.