Imagine that it is the poet’s anniversary, but the educational mission does not come into play. How award-winning director Heinrich Breloer planned a new docudrama for Thomas Mann’s 150th birthday. And the committees and costs ruined everything.
This story actually begins in the mid-1950s in a Catholic boarding school in Lüdinghausen, where the high school teacher announced to his students “Thomas Mann, we won’t read him!”, including Joyce; Hesse would have gotten away with it.
Of course, the student Heinrich Breloer read the disapproved lectures in the classroom after class. Breloer was particularly fond of the Mann family. “Personal Experience and Aesthetic Abstraction” was the title of his doctoral thesis on the interaction between life and poetry, and when “Mephisto”, the film adaptation of the novel by Thomas Mann’s son Klaus, became a cinematic success, Breloer convinced WDR and NDR make a documentary on the life of Klaus Mann. His father, mother and Klaus were dead, but three of his five brothers were still alive, and Breloer visited Golo, Elisabeth and Monika and all of Klaus’ companions who were found with a 16-millimeter camera.
it was the basis for half a century of relationships with the most German families of all (“Our windsors,” Reich-Ranicki called them),and finally there was the five-hour TV movie “The Manns” (2001) . : an ensemble of German stars with Armin Mueller -Stahl at the helm, the perfection of the docudrama invented by Breloer and his partner Horst Königstein, ten Grimme Awards, one Emmy Award. And a letter of thanks from the publisher S. Fischer because the film permanently increased thomas Mann’s sales by a third.
Yet something was missing. “The Manns” begins in the early 1920s, Thomas is famous and financially independent. He has everything he wanted to achieve, a “straight fortune” (as he called it), but he pays a high price for social advancement: he controls his homosexual tendencies.
But his novels tell it, revealed and veiled at the same time. The man starts a family.Breloer’s idea was to write a prequel about Mann’s courtship, about his stubborn decision to exchange the free-spirited bohemian for the mask of a bourgeois patriarch.
Breloer’s home station, WDR, showed interest, even though his old comrades were gone. Alexander Bickel, the new director of television dramas, proposed filming a six-part 45-minute miniseries as a “beacon” for the media library and bringing in Munich-based Constantin as a minority partner. Breloer was ready for it.
And maybe a woman as director? Breloer,who had eye problems,also agreed.The winner was Sherry Hormann (“Altes Land”). Work on the script continued.
in the end there was only one screenplay left
In October 2022, at the meeting of all involved in Cologne: the showdown.At first there was praise from all sides for Breloer’s work, which should have made him suspicious. A calculation was presented: as much as 20 million euros. There was discussion of cuts, of twelve or seven million, which would have hurt the film in its essence.
At one point Tim Greve, Constantin’s production manager, said succinctly: “This film will no longer exist. The time for German cultural history on German public television had apparently run out, both due to the budget and an alleged lack of funding.” interest from the public.
Breloer can still exist in book form: the DVA offered him to make a book out of the material and he wrote a sort of “docu-novel”. As thomas Mann approaches his 150th birthday “Impeccable luck” now published (402 pages, 26 euros), uses the established facts and fills the gaps with the creativity of the expert man.
Thomas Mann is said to have arrived an hour late to his engagement party, and Breloer imagines an explanation for this. It’s not Germanic. But very fun.
What are some key themes explored in Thomas Mann’s literary works?
Time.news Interview: Celebrating Thomas Mann’s Legacy with Heinrich Breloer
Interviewer (Time.news Editor): Welcome, everyone, to today’s special interview. With us is the award-winning director Heinrich Breloer, who has recently attempted to honor the legacy of the iconic author Thomas Mann on the occasion of his 150th birthday. Heinrich,thank you for joining us.
Heinrich Breloer: Thank you for having me.it’s a pleasure to discuss this project.
Interviewer: Let’s start from the beginning. Your journey with Thomas Mann began in an unexpected way in the 1950s. Can you share what ignited your passion for his work during your school days?
Heinrich Breloer: Absolutely.In that strict Catholic boarding school, when my teacher announced that we wouldn’t be reading Thomas Mann or James Joyce, it felt like a challenge to me.There was something defiant about that prohibition. I found Mann’s exploration of the human experience and moral questions captivating. Though discouraged, I sought out his readings in secret, and that rebellious act became a catalyst for my lifelong admiration for his work.
Interviewer: Fascinating! Your academic exploration even led to a doctoral thesis titled “Personal Experience and Aesthetic Abstraction.” How did that scholarly background influence your understanding of Mann and his family?
Heinrich Breloer: Studying Mann’s life alongside his literary contributions helped me see the intricate threads that connect personal experience with artistic expression. This understanding deepened my connection to the Mann family, particularly as I began to explore their dynamic relationships, struggles, and achievements in my documentaries.
Interviewer: Speaking of documentaries, your film “Mephisto,” based on the novel by Klaus Mann, became quite a success. How did that success influence your desire to create a documentary on klaus’s life as part of the commemorative project?
Heinrich Breloer: Well,the success of “Mephisto” opened many doors,which made me realise the enduring power of storytelling. Realizing that Klaus Mann’s life and struggles mirrored many of the themes found in his father’s work inspired me to dig deeper into their family narrative. It’s a complex tapestry of artistic brilliance and personal turmoil that deserves to be seen.
Interviewer: You mentioned visiting Klaus Mann’s siblings and companions to gather content for your documentary. What challenges did you face during this process,especially considering the passage of time?
Heinrich Breloer: It was both a privilege and a challenge. Many of Klaus’s contemporaries and his siblings had lived through tumultuous times, which shaped their memories and stories. I wanted to capture their authentic voices, but wrestling with their recollections while also ensuring respect for their past was delicate.
Interviewer: Now, let’s talk about the recent challenges you faced in planning this docudrama for Thomas Mann’s anniversary. It truly seems the committees and costs posed significant hurdles. Can you elaborate on that?
Heinrich Breloer: yes,that was quite discouraging. While the intent was to celebrate Mann’s genius and contribute to cultural dialog, the logistical aspects became overwhelming. The financial limitations and bureaucratic red tape transformed a passionate pursuit into a daunting task. I believe in the importance of culture and art, but navigating the financial landscape can stifle creativity, especially for projects that aim to educate and inspire.
Interviewer: It’s unfortunate when bureaucracy hinders artistic vision. Looking ahead, despite the challenges, what do you hope will emerge from your work on thomas Mann and Klaus Mann?
Heinrich breloer: My hope is that these narratives foster a deeper understanding of their art and provoke discussions about identity, creativity, and the impact of personal experiences on artistic endeavors. Even if the docudrama didn’t pan out as we envisioned, I believe the conversations it ignites can enlighten future generations about these incredible figures.
interviewer: That’s a powerful legacy to aim for. Thank you, Heinrich, for sharing your experiences and insights with us. We look forward to seeing how your journey with the Mann family will unfold.
Heinrich Breloer: Thank you for the chance to discuss this. I appreciate your interest in this vital cultural conversation!