Murnau Foundation shows lost film

WIESBADEN – (red). On Friday, June 24, at 7 p.m., the Hessian State Archive will present a find to the public for the first time in the Murnau Film Theater, Murnaustrasse 6: The silent film “The Back of the Moon” is a pastiche of everyday life in the theatre. The hitherto unknown 50-minute black-and-white film was found in the Main State Archives in the estate of Alfred Erich Sistig, who worked as dramaturg and theater director at the Munich Kammerspiele in the 1940s and 1950s. From 1968 to 1975 Sistig was director of the Hessian State Theater. The film may have been made for Sistig’s 50th birthday or for his farewell as acting director of the Munich Kammerspiele in 1959. In order to identify the actors involved, an intensive search for people began in the main state archive, since the film has neither opening nor closing credits. For example, Therese Giehse, Ursula Lingen, Kurt Meisel, August Everding and Mario Adorf could be recognized. He was contacted, as was director Dominik Graf, whose father was involved in the film. Both helped identify more actors.

The performance will be accompanied live on the electric piano by the musician Uwe Oberg. This will be followed by a discussion with Nicola Wurthmann, head of the department at the Hessian Main State Archives.