This is an almost 50-year-old one-hour documentary about the life and death of Klara Heydebreck (born before 1900), who was an old woman that committed suicide. That is really everything about her. She was no celebrity and there was nothing out of the ordinary about her life, only that she was a bit of a loner. The writer, director and narrator is Eberhard Fechner (fairly known for his work in the 1960s and 1970s) and he won a Golden Camera for it. It's actually a pretty sad movie (especially her farewell letter) and I have to say it tells me almost as much about the people who lived with/near the deceased than about herself. The way they are talking about her is fairly despicable. Who are they to judge the life that Heydebreck chose? If she does not want to have to do anything with them, it's her decision and it's fine that way. She had her interest in art and if that was enough to fill her life, that is perfectly fine in my opinion and it is entirely her business that she was unemployed for quite some time.
What I liked maybe most about this documentary was that it was not only about the person in the title, but also about life at that time in general and about society in general. Some interesting historic references in here. Still, it is mostly a very personal tale and even if I was entertained watching this, I wonder how Klara Heydebreck would have liked her life and death being turned into a fairly known documentary. It was humiliating at times I have to say, even if a grand part of it was very objective and factual, like listing the entire income she had during her life. Rest in peace, Klara Heydebreck.
What I liked maybe most about this documentary was that it was not only about the person in the title, but also about life at that time in general and about society in general. Some interesting historic references in here. Still, it is mostly a very personal tale and even if I was entertained watching this, I wonder how Klara Heydebreck would have liked her life and death being turned into a fairly known documentary. It was humiliating at times I have to say, even if a grand part of it was very objective and factual, like listing the entire income she had during her life. Rest in peace, Klara Heydebreck.
