"Heimsuchung"

Description

Reading and moderated discussion A house on a Märkischer lake. Almost a century of German history. And two artists bringing one of the most significant German-language novels of the present to the stage for the first time together. Jenny Erpenbeck, recipient of the International Booker Prize, is one of the most important international literary voices of our time. In her widely acclaimed novel "Heimsuchung," she tells not the story of a single family, but that of a place. A summer house by the lake becomes a silent witness to German history. Generations come and go, owners change, lives begin and end. People love and lose, flee, remain silent, and remember. From their fates, an intense panorama of the 20th century emerges, in which personal life stories and historical upheavals are inextricably intertwined. With great poetic power and impressive historical precision, Erpenbeck unfolds a narrative about memory and transience, homeland and expropriation, guilt and responsibility, chance and fate. "Heimsuchung" is now considered one of the most important German-language novels of the present. For many high school graduates, the book is still associated with this year's German exams. The Harbour Front Literature Festival now offers the opportunity to rediscover the novel, free from exam pressure and as what it has long become: a modern classic of German-language literature. Martina Gedeck, one of Germany's most renowned actresses, lends her voice to the novel and reads selected passages. With her fine, nuanced interpretation, she makes Erpenbeck's poetic language immediately tangible. In the subsequent discussion, the author and actress meet to talk about the creation of the novel, its international impact, and its surprising relevance today. A special occasion for this: just a few days after this festival evening, the film adaptation of "Heimsuchung" directed by Volker Schlöndorff will celebrate its cinema premiere. Martina Gedeck plays one of the main roles and thus brings the novel not only to the stage but also to the screen.
An extraordinary festival evening about literature and film, memory and history, loss and hope. And about the question of how stories of past generations continue to shape our lives today. Jenny Erpenbeck received the 2024 International Booker Prize for her novel "Kairos." Her most important works also include "Heimsuchung," "Gehen, ging, gegangen," and "Aller Tage Abend." Her books are published in numerous languages and are among the most discussed works of contemporary German literature. Martina Gedeck is one of the most significant actresses in Germany. She gained international fame with films such as "Das Leben der Anderen," "Der Baader Meinhof Komplex," "Elementarteilchen," and numerous international film productions. She has received many awards for her work and has been a leading figure in German cinema for decades.

Highlights

• Reading by Jenny Erpenbeck, recipient of the International Booker Prize
• Moderated discussion about the novel "Heimsuchung"
• Part of the Harbour Front Literature Festival

General Information

The event takes place at the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg and features a reading as well as a moderated discussion about the significant novel "Heimsuchung." Jenny Erpenbeck addresses the intertwining of personal fates and historical upheavals in the 20th century in her work.

Location

Platz der Deutschen Einheit 1, 20457 Hamburg, Germany

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