Joseph Roth's Grosse-Welt-Bioskop-Theater

1994 • Directed by

Hans Keller

Documentary

The Austrian writer-journalist Joseph Roth (1894-1939) travelled criss-cross through Europe. Hans Keller visited the same countries and places in order to make a film about the life and work of this man, who could only live in hotels. Keller creates a beautiful synthesis between Europe as Roth knew it and the present-day Europe. In the loving look at the different locations, the continuity of past and present reveals itself. Intermittently, tableaux in a copied 'Bioskoptheater' show scenes from the author's life. Finally, a film script which was once rejected by Hollywood yet comes alive.