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Overlooked & Underrated Docs & Features (click on broll or dschwartz for all his posts)

Gottfried Helnwein and the Dreaming Child

Directed by Lisa Kirk Colburn, “Gottfried Helnwein and the Dreaming Child” follows Austrian artist Gottfried Helnwein as he designs sets and costumes for an Israeli production of the opera “The Child Dreams”, composed by Gil Shohat. The opera is based on the play, “The Dreaming Child” by prolific Israeli dramatist Hanoch Levin.

Children, their innocence and the violence perpetrated on them by humanity, is the primary theme of Gottfried Helnwein’s (http://www.helnwein.com/) work. That theme is mirrored by Levin’s play. Helnwein was the obvious choice for the opera. Both the play, the opera, and Helnwein’s work are about the torture and death of children during the Holocaust, as well as their mistreatment throughout human history.

The film follows Helnwein as he works with opera director Omri Nitzan and the production staff in creating the opera’s look. We’re also introduced to Helnwein’s portrait work of children. More importantly we learn of Helnwein’s passion, and see that passion lived in the creation of “The Dreaming Child”.

D. Schwartz March 31, 2013