Chronik der Anna Magdalena Bach (1968)

Directors:

Danièle Huillet
Jean-Marie Straub

Writers:

Anna Magdalena Bach (diary)
Danièle Huillet (adaptation) ...
(more)

Release Date:

6 November 1968 (France)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | History | Music

Plot:

A chronicle of Johann Sebastian Bach's life, eschewing drama to focus almost entirely on his music. Narrated by his wife Anna in voiceover...

Plot Keywords:

Bach | Woman Director | Orchestra | Husband Wife Relationship | Singer

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Gustav Leonhardt	...	Johann Sebastian Bach
Christiane Lang	...	Anna Magdalena Bach
Paolo Carlini	...	Hölzel
Ernst Castelli	...	Steger
Hans-Peter Boye	...	Born
Joachim Wolff	...	Rector
Rainer Kirchner	...	Superintendent
Eckart Bruntjen	...	Prefect Kittler
Walter Peters	...	Prefect Krause
Kathrien Leonhard	...	Catherina Dorothea Bach
Anja Fahrmann	...	Regine Susanna Bach
Katja Drewanz	...	Christine Sophie Henrietta Bach
Bob van Asperen	...	Johann Elias Bach
Andreas Pangritz	...	Wilhelm Friedemann Bach
Bernd Weikl	...	Singer in Cantata No. 205
Wolfgang Schöne	...	Singer in Cantata No. 82
Karl-Heinz Lampe	...	Singer in Cantata No. 42
Bernhard Wehle	...	Treble Voice in Cantata No. 140
Christa Degler	...	Anna Magdalena Bach in Cantata No. 244 (voice)
Karl-Heinz Klein	...	Bass Voice in Cantata No. 140
Nikolaus Harnoncourt	...	Prince of Anhalt-Cöthen
Hellmuth Costard	...	Rector Ernesti

Directed by
Danièle Huillet
Jean-Marie Straub

Writing credits
Anna Magdalena Bach		(diary)
Danièle Huillet		(adaptation) &
Jean-Marie Straub		(adaptation)

Produced by
Gian Vittorio Baldi	....	producer
Danièle Huillet	....	producer
Franz Seitz	....	producer
Jean-Marie Straub	....	producer

Cinematography by
Ugo Piccone

Film Editing by
Danièle Huillet
Jean-Marie Straub

Production Design by
Danièle Huillet

Costume Design by
Vera Poggioni

Makeup Department
Guerrino Todero	....	hair stylist: periwegs

Production Management
Günther Maag	....	unit manager
Horst Winter	....	unit manager

Sound Department
Louis Hochet	....	sound
Lucien Moreau	....	sound
Paul Schöler	....	sound mixer

Camera and Electrical Department
Giovanni Canfarelli Modica	....	assistant camera (as Giovanni Canfarelli)
Saverio Diamante	....	assistant camera (as Saverio Diamanti)
Hans Eberle	....	lighting technician
Thomas Hartwig	....	camera operator: trick camera
Max Jörg	....	lighting technician
Hans Kracht	....	assistant camera
Uwe Radom	....	assistant camera

Music Department
Johann Sebastian Bach	....	composer: stock music
Concentus Musicus Wien	....	orchestra (as Concentus musicus, Ensemble für alte Musik Wien)
Nikolaus Harnoncourt	....	conductor: Concentus musicus, Ensemble für arte Musik Wien
Heinz Hennig	....	chorus master: Knabenchor Hannover
Knabenchor Hannover	....	chorus
Gustav Leonhardt	....	musician
Leo Leonius	....	composer: stock music
Schola Cantrum Basiliensis	....	musician
Bernhard Wehle	....	singing voice
August Wenzinger	....	conductor: Schola Cantorum Basiliensis

Other crew
Georg Föcking	....	production assistant
Aldo U. Passalacqua	....	production assistant (as Aldo Passalacqua)

Production Companies

• Franz Seitz Filmproduktion (co-production)
• IDI Cinematografica (co-production) (as Gianvittorio Baldi IDI Cinematografica)
• Straub-Huillet
• Kuratorium Junger Deutscher Film
• Hessischer Rundfunk (HR)
• Film Fonds (as Filmfonds e.V.)
• Telepool

Distributors

• Neue Filmkunst Walter Kirchner (1968) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Euro Space (1985) (Japan) (theatrical)
• New Yorker Films (1969) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Kinokuniya (2002) (Japan) (DVD)
• New Yorker Films (2005) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Casa d'Arte di Firenze  costumes (as Casa d'arte Firenze)
• Rocchetti  wigs (as Parrucche Rocchetti)
• Staatsoper Unter den Linden  filmed at: Berlin (as Staatsoper)

Also Known As:

Cronaca di Anna Magdalena Bach (Italy)
The Chronicle of Anna Magdalena Bach (USA)

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

West Germany | Italy

Language:

German

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

West Germany:6 (f) | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Eutin, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany

Company:

Franz Seitz Filmproduktion

Trivia:

Gustav Leonhardt portrays Bach in his only performance as an actor. He is a music scholar of International renown, specialized in the works of Johann Sebastian Bach, and a harpsichord virtuoso whose Bach recordings (both as harpsichord player and conductor) are the finest to be found in recording History.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Verteidigung der Zeit (2007) (TV)

A Rebuttal

I'd like to offer a rebuttal to some of the negative comments about this movie. I, too, noticed the same things that turned off the others - the lack of typical plot, dialog, and drama. In fact, halfway through the movie, i was having a hard time staying focused. But then I started to get it. After the movie was over, I watched the "Making of..." documentary that was on the DVD. It was only then that I truly understood. The director Straub, a refugee from Algeria, living in Germany. A 10 year quest to make the movie. Everything was dogmatically intentional. He wanted the performances to be shown statically. He believed if one was to listen to a 7 minute piece of music, all the drama should be derived from the music, not the cinematic arts. All sound was location, the musicians are the highest caliber - everything played on screen. What movies today could boast of that? Also, he said he wanted it to be as much a documentary about the virtuoso Leonhardt who plays Bach, as it was about Bach. To him, a long shot on the face of the performer was all one needed to experience the ecstasy of Bach. Remember, too, this is 1967 Germany. He was trying to avoid all nationalism, and was glad to have a Dutchman play Bach. I think looking at this movie through the eyes of today's short attention-spanned, explosion thirsty movie-going POV is ignorant. I doubt many of those people could even sit through a 7 minute piece of music. Straub was 30 years ahead of his time. Anyone who appreciates the Dogma95 should understand. Finally, I see that he and his wife had been making movies together for over 40 years, until Danièle died last fall. My condolences, Mr. Straub. This is one person you have reached.