Video Americain

Synopsis

The story of the real-life love affair between Jewish poet Else Lasker-Schueler and Nazi poet Gottfried Benn is told largely through their poetry in this experimental drama scored with improvised music. The poets' relationship epitomizes the idea of the "ill-fated romance" as Lasker-Schueler is forced to leave the country because of the very ideology Benn espouses. While she drifts from country to country en route to Jerusalem, he eventually realizes his mistake when the Nazis condemn his artistic school. The passion of Lasker-Schueler and Benn lives in their poetry as Helma Sander-Brahms focuses on the artistry of these unfortunate artists lost to history.