Original subtitles

THE NEW ERA

THE PRINCE OF THEBES

You have to see,

that the bourgeois conventions of that time,

they were strict.

I mean, dress codes and behavior.

These students, they drove the Baronesse crazy.

And what did you do about it?

Silence, please!

May I ask you to be quiet.

Silence!

Please.

Now that the Bauhaus gentlemen are here to explain themselves,

I may ask everyone present to take your seats.

I welcome you all.

Mr Gropius.

The questions this citizens committee has

are familiar to you.

Scandals around your facility are increasing.

As of late there are reports of nude swimming

in public.

And that is what you want to discuss with us?

The baroness herself

has seen your so called masters

with all of your student protégés

swimming naked in the Ilm River.

As far as I know Goethe used to swim

in the same place.

And I doubt he'd always wear a bathing suit.

Since he was quite wild and free.

Are you comparing your employees to Goethe?

No, only the bathing.

It is not just about that.

I believe the master student Gross

wants to contribute something.

I, Hans Gross,

master student of the Grand Ducal Academy of Arts,

accuse you, Mr Gropius, of admitting too many foreigners.

Including Jews and Bolshevists,

who disrespect the German sense and German spirit

and steal the places of German students.

I call on you to commit to nationalism.

You must expel all Jews and foreigners,

if you don't want to be suspected

of sympathizing with the Bolshevist idea yourself.

I don't "have to" do anything, Mr Gross.

I only have to follow my conviction.

And my conviction is this: If art isn't for everyone,

what's it for?

But I understand your accusations against the Bauhaus

and I reply as follows:

You are expelled, effective immediately.

This is an abuse of your position!

Director Gropius.

Master.

I speak for all present masters of the old academy.

If you expel student Gross from school

because of his honesty

you can count on the resistance of our old masters council.

I call on you...

We call on you to commit to the German nationalism.

I will never.

The Bauhaus is unpolitical.

Unpolitical? - Yes.

Who are you fooling!

I'll give it to you in writing.

There are no political activities at our school.

Write that down.

Please, please.

Let's all calm down.

Given the broad differences of opinion at the school,

let me make the following suggestion:

We separate the old masters

and the old students from the Bauhaus

and let them complete their studies

at an individual German-National academy.

Hear, hear.

And the Bauhaus is unpolitical, we also want to make note of that.

Agreed. Are we done here?

We are done here. - So I would like to thank you.

What good is our work without a political confession?

What good is a political confession if we can't work anymore?

I wasn't aware how ambitious you are.

Careful, Johannes.

You have all heard about the contentions.

It is now up to you to make a decision.

The older students can complete their studies at their own academy

with the honorable masters, if they want to.

You also have the choice however to stay with us at the Bauhaus.

Make your decision.

Dörte.

My beloved Dörte,

how happy I am about the news

that you can now finish your studies of arts

with the good old masters.

Soon you can come home,

where mother and I happily await you.

How's our fairy tale book doing?

What's he writing?

Of course he thinks I will finish my studies as quickly as possible.

Else Lasker-Schüler.

Do you know her?

I only read about her.

They say she was married twice

and had countless affairs.

My wishes spurt forth into my yearning blood...

Good evening, Johannes.

The way wild vines seethe over a bough in flames.

The picture is great. - Yes.

This one too.

I like that a lot.

Else Lasker-Schüler.

1st Bauhaus-Night.

They're starting.

My wishes

spurt forth into my yearning heart

the way wild vines

seethe over a bough in flames.

I want the two

of us

made one force,

one blood

one fullness,

one agony

one world-consuming arrant love.

I want your

branchings woven into mine,

So much desire, therefore so many men.

When sun-crazed summer cries out loud of rain and bursts the thunderhead!

Life's force belongs to us

and death we drag forth from his arid vault.

I want

cliffs risen...

from our abyss...

to overtop eachother past the topmost mountain...

and beyond.

Hearts grappled to the heart of heaven...

where we feel our power in the wind...

and outshine...

even the unending.

Heedless, surging into the headlong overflow

we

Fall inside each other

down steep faces

gushes listening only to themselves

where suddenly downroaring

into one wild prime

unshorn we braid

the waterfall.

Amazing!

Loringhoven doesn't approve.

She just doesn't get it.

I didn't get it all myself.

The poetry is just one aspect

of the fictional character Prince of Thebes.

You should see her drawings at the gallery Sturm

in Berlin. They're fantastic.

She's years ahead of her time. It's really impressive.

Let's introduce ourselves. - No. No.

Why not? If you find it so interesting?

May we pay our respects?

With pleasure.

Miss Helm.

Did you enjoy the guest lecture of Ms Lasker-Schüler?

Yes.

Her performance

was very inspiring.

Thank you. I'm glad.

A woman so libertine

didn't shatter you or your civil worldview?

No.

We were surprised that your father didn't call you back to Rostock.

Right, Walter?

Yes. It's nice you're staying on.

How did your father take it?

Let's not bore our guest with pedagogic details, Johannes.

How could we?

Miss Helm! - Johannes

What did you see tonight? - Let it go.

Come on now. We're here to talk about art.

Yes, but not to be made fun of, Alma.

Oh, please!

Dörte was fascinated by your Berlin exhibit.

Thank you sincerely. - Right?

Well...

what exactly fascinated you?

Miss Helm, thank you and enjoy your evening.

You really have it in for her, don't you?

She wanted to debate. - Johannes.

Oh come on Walter. Excuse me.

You're pretty taken with the girl, eh?

Our daughter?

I don't understand.

Our daughter, I don't understand. I don't understand, pff.

That young student who you wanted to protect so heroically.

Didn't work though!

Because Itten wanted to see blood.

That hurt you, didn't it. Really hurts you, more than her.

At least nobody enjoyed more than you

watching Itten's little torture.

You are and always will be a pervert, Alma,

delighting on other people's misfortune like a fat maggot.

Oh god, are you trying to hurt me,

because I'm cheeky enough to bring up your

patriarchic cravings for young girls.

I couldn't care less who'll be the next you screw.

Out of old friendship I'd be glad if,

down there, you could do more than just pass water.

Are you worried about my health now?

No need. My body's just fine

the moment the woman doesn't smell of cognac.

I wouldn't have to drink

if you still loved me.

Alma.

I'm sorry.

God, you're so easy to read.

With your patronizing protective instinct.

You're so dumb,

that one day you might just lay a rope around your neck.

She's your student, she's entrusted to you.

You are her master!

I'm not sleeping with her. Only in your imagination.

Fine with me. But I sleep with Werfel.

And I want you to answer his letter now.

Ah, that's what it's about.

Can we agree on Werfel's proposal?

Half a year I'm in Vienna with him, half a year with you.

You couldn't make me happy if you wanted to.

At least half a year I need a man who can satisfy me physically.

Just be happy that I serve you as decoration for half a year.

Decoration?

An old crock like you? Werfel can have you all to himself.

I wonder what he sees in you.

You draw on your libertine fame.

But all you are now is vulgar.

What?

What?

You are boring Alma.

You too!

Dörte.

Dörte!

Nice.

Not good? - It is!

It is, it is, it is...

It is.

That's what's missing.

You can't. It's yours.

Perfect.

That was somehow...

I think that left a big impact on her.

Careful, buddy!

Dörte, looking great! - Dörte, Dörte.

You look beautiful,

beautiful!

This way.

Stop.

To the left.

Here.

And?

What do you say?

Well...

I still need to cut the hair shorter.

I couldn't have foreseen that but...

How do you like her?

I mean...

you.

We have to go to class.

Dörte, wait.

I didn't stay here because of you.

Hello, master Itten.

Do you want to join me?

For our first exercise?

Got up as Else Lasker-Schüler this morning?

Those two bags are filled with materials

that couldn't be more different in nature.

I want you to put your hand inside and simultaneously draw

exactly what you feel.

What's inside of it?

Well,

if I told you this exercise would be pointless, wouldn't it?

Now draw the emotion.

What do you feel?

This...

You, my precious, are a hopeless case.

Pain!

Any extreme sensation is a blessing for every true artist

but mademoiselle prefers not to express it.

What are you doing here?

Running away, excellent!

Stay here!

Pack your bags!

Pack your bags and clear your space for someone who's serious.

You are just a...

choleric person.

Stuffed with prejudice to the top!

You know nothing about me.

Nothing!

Dörte, don't do that!

Don't be chased away by that ape.

Gunta's right,

Itten is a master ape.

You will pass the preliminary easily.

Your work is very interesting.

You're so crafty.

Just ignore him.

Ignore him?

The first teacher to tell me the truth?

What kind of truth?

That I can't speak for myself.

That all I can do is copy.

That's nonsense.

Nonsense.

You just have to be yourself. It's easy.

Yes, just be myself.

Dörte.

Leave me...

Please wait, Dörte.

A self-portrait in the style of New Objectivity.

Dörte was taking in every influence so she changed quickly.

She had been waiting for us, for the idea.

Was she copying?

This is from 1916

and looks like a Monet to me.

Kandinsky?

Yeah, she was young.

She was experimenting.

How nice you still protect her.

No, but it's true.

We become what we are by imitation of others.

By imitation of life, don't we?

No no no no. You were in love with her.

Walter, you did not fuck your student, did you?

You're vulgar, Stine, and you know that.

But for the record,

no I did not.

You know, Stine,

you’re asking the same questions I had to answer years ago

about unconventional behavior. About women.

Always the same questions.

What's he doing there?

He found an investor in Berlin

who leased the property for him.

Adolf Sommerfeld, another nutcase. - There you go, minister, sir.

And now they want to build their new school there.

I'll be right back.

Minister, sir!

Mr Gropius.

This is where we build our colony.

A wide gathering place in the centre.

The masters' houses,

the workshops,

facilities for children, for sports

and all of it financed by public funds

and a private investor.

Mr Sommerfeld is a successful businessman

with high hopes. But he can't do it alone.

Do you support the project?

Sir, come now, it's surely in your interest too?

Those kind of success stories turn ministers into presidents.

Mr Gropius, you should be a businessman yourself.

What do you say?

I say Sommerfeld sounds Jewish.

Oh, come on, stop.

You still didn't get it yet, did you?

You are in deep water.

The citizens' committee won't get tired of hustling you.

Too many women, too many Jews.

Give them something or you're history.

Give those who'll be history themselves?

Let me tell you something:

The world will still talk about the Bauhaus in a hundred years.

And you, sir, can decide to be immortal

or fall into oblivion with those German-National comrades.

Careful...

Never bite the hand that feeds you.

Don't worry about me.

I have other hands feeding me.

Really?

Too many women, too many Jews,

You will have to make a sacrifice.

I tend to be a bit choleric, I know.

It's to your merit that you're still here.

I would like to invite you to my atelier this afternoon.

At four.

Are you going?

Not alone.

Hello. - Good afternoon.

Hello.

Good afternoon, please.

How good that you followed my invitation.

Come in.

Georg! Nice that you could make it.

The pleasure is all mine.

Master Muche. - Well, curious?

Take off whatever you please.

Or stay dressed. Whatever is comfortable.

What are we doing?

Yoga.

What is yoga?

I don't have a clue.

Mazdaznan is a study of life

helping to reach completeness

through a disciplined lifestyle.

The founder is Otoman Zar-Adusht Ha'nisch.

We are vegetarians.

Excessive eating leads to

physical and mental interruptions,

to a decay of culture.

The Mazdaznan teaching is often described as solar cult.

It's about illumination, about the path to self-awareness.

Whoever wants to go that path with me

is invited to, every day at four.

Only one thing has to be clear:

I'm an incredibly humourless person.

I seek illumination myself

and my life is too short to waste time, so please...

Don't show up to improve your grades.

What are you doing there?

Making a chair.

In the middle of the night? You'll wake everyone up.

I call it the African Chair,

Like a king's armchair.

Throne.

Exactly.

Need help? I can't sleep anyway.

Because of Dörte?

Is it over?

Hold tight, Auerbach.

I have assigned the twelve colours to the twelve notes.

C, white,

C sharp, orange,

D, blue.

Please build a circle and pick a colour.

Take a good look at it.

Gunta, I designed a chair.

So, you designed a chair.

A lot of chairs, actually. But one in particular.

What's so special about it?

That I want to build it with you.

With me?

Because you are the best at crocheting and knitting and such.

The chair needs both of us.

The chair needs both of us.

I may ask you to be quiet.

And now close your eyes.

And feel the colour that you have internalized.

It's under your soles,

rises inside of you.

It fills your body, the room...

And now move inside the colour.

Nice.

Please sit down.

Like a queen.

And you want me to weave the cushions?

Mhm.

What's the backrest supposed to look like?

Up to here and straight.

And why straight and why not...

woven?

Nice too.

The African Chair, right?

Yes.

Seems like they took the idea of collaboration very literally?

Absolutely. They loved to collaborate.

Sometimes even groups of students worked together.

It's getting dark,

you can take off your glasses, Stine. I saw your shiner anyway.

I fell. A little accident.

I see.

Anyway.

Itten later became a Nazi, didn't he?

Oh no no no. People exaggerated that.

Mazdaznan followed a race theory similar to the Nazis but they didn't exclude Jews.

Back then we all didn't know about Itten being a racist.

No one knew how dark this Mazdaznan thing would get.

Master Muche gave this book to me.

And I wanted to ask you if you can perform the cleansing rituals.

The cleansing rituals are for the advanced.

But it also says that in some cases

it can be started earlier.

The cleansing is painful.

Why would you want to undergo this torture?

If the body isn't clean the mind can't be either.

That's what the books say. But what's your interest in it?

I believe it could be true.

The mind needs a pure body

to be free.

Do you want to be free?

Because it's a high price you'll have to pay.

Fine.

Prepare for the ritual.

For the next three days you may not eat.

Drink only boiled water.

For lunch a clear vegetable broth

and tonight before going to bed you will drink this.

What is it?

The beginning.

Enough.

Stop smoking now!

Marcel!

Marcel!

Stop smoking.

Dörte's suffocating.

That's not the smoke, it's Itten's poison.

What's up with him? All he does is

Out! Are you nuts? In my bed?

Are you crazy Andor?

You can cuddle at home. Out!

Out!

And you too! He's not getting better today.

It's over! Out! All of you!

I'm so close to winning...

Gunta!

No thanks.

You don't drink?

Can't.

How about taking it off for a moment?

I'm fasting.

Excuse me?

I'm fasting!

A bit boring on such an evening.

You could tell me a funny story.

Right away...

How are things with Itten? Better?

Yes. Fine. Our relationship has changed.

I'm glad.

I know how to make you laugh.

Walter, heel. Mistress wants to go home.

Yes, good boy. Get on with it.

Walter, do I have to put you on a leash?

Good night, Miss Helm.

Night, director, sir.

Ready?

Wake up!

In a minute.

What... What did you do?

I let master Itten cleanse my body.

What?

He punctured me and removed the poison and rotten substances

from the deeper layers.

Can we talk later?

Sure, of course.

Gottfried has a fever,

Ari is in the hospital,

I took him there.

He smelled rotten, like putrid skin.

I think you should stop immediately.

You don't have to take care of me anymore, Johannes.

I know that.

I've understood.

But I'm still worried about you.

No need.

I'm fine.

The financial situation, ladies and gentlemen,

continuous to be precarious.

I don't want to discuss the workshops' expenses

in the open...

Johannes, there are complaints by students

about you ordain a vegetarian diet.

Is that right?

Many students support the Mazdaznan.

Many of whom secretly eat meat at the Elefant

from what I see.

Everyone sins...

Mr Gropius...

But all in all the idea of a strict lifestyle inspires them.

May I ask for your attention?

It's still about the cafeteria.

Yes, I believe we should offer our students decent meals

or else they'll get sick..

Rotten meat doesn't make them healthy.

And besides I give them something they can believe in.

The garlic soup?

That too.

And thus our miserly existence becomes a royal one.

The starving feel miserable, the fasting feel noble.

Johannes...

I know a lot of them admire you but still many have complained

that they had to eat nothing but garlic for days.

Once our vegetable garden yields more we can offer more.

And the students like when we cook.

It's not just about the meals. Several students wear bandages.

They're cleansing themselves. This is also problematic.

Don't worry.

They're all on the right track.

Fine, it's not my decision to make.

Let's vote. Who wants a vegetarian cuisine?

Have you been jealous?

Jealous?

About Itten?

He was gaining popularity.

I was pretty popular too, you know

This is for you.

Thank you.

Merry Christmas.

Thanks.

Marcel.

Thank you.

Thank you.

This is the Flat Iron.

What's up with you?

I'll open it later.

And what was your present for Dörte?

Stine, this was more than forty years ago.

The course and right way of Lao-tse.

Beware the beginnings! Christmas 1919.