Une femme publique très spéciale

Marlene Dietrich was an excellent actress. She was also bright, witty and educated. She was a very beautiful looking woman. Marlene Dietrich stands in history for a powerful individual capable to confront Nazism. Some Germans never forgave her for her decision to join the Americans and fight against Germany during the World War II. 

Ms Dietrich traded a glamours career of the film star in Hitler’s Third Reich, for the dangerous life of the entertainer of the American troops on the front lines. Her choice was challenging even for some liberal German minds. But Ms Dietrich had her mind and made her decisions often against all social expectations. She left her daughter and husband back in Germany when she first went to the US to pursue the film career. Later, she applied for the American Army to fight against Hitler. After the war, she lived her private life on her terms even when it meant a radical departure from the conventional framework. She had many lovers, both male and female, and sometimes discussed them with her husband. Once she slept with the President of the USA to soothe and encourage him. She was a friend and occasional lover to some of the biggest 20th century writers such as Erich Maria Remarque, Ernst Hemingway and George Bertrand Shaw.  One of her female love affairs was Mercedes Acosta, an American writer. 

Marlene Dietrich remains today as a style icon. She used to say “Clothes bore me. If I dressed for me, I’d wouldn’t bother at all. I’d wear jeans. I dress for the image. Not for myself, not for the public, not for fashion, not for men. Glamour is assurance. It is a kind of knowing that you are all right in every way, mentally and physically and in appearance, and that, whatever the occasion or the situation, you are equal to it.“ Such an image of a self-confident woman; brave, consistent and with the highest integrity; yet mysterious and erotic; survived until today in the features of Marlen Dietrich. She still stands impeccably for the image of a powerful woman.

In Marlene Haris Pašović, one of South-East Europe’s most influential and prolific directors and playwrights, stages the story of the iconic film star of the Third Reich who, during World War II, decided to fight Nazism alongside the Americans. This self-confident woman, coherent and upright, mysterious and erotic, in a present marked by chatter rather than debate about the public role of women, becomes an iconic figure of self-determination, of someone who forges destiny on her choices. On stage, impersonating Marlene, is Serbian actress Mirjana Karanović, one of the most appreciated on the Eastern European scene.

Haris Pasovic directed in some of the most important theatres in the former Yugoslavia and participated in a number of festivals across the region. His productions have been considered as the landmarks in the theatre of the former Yugoslavia. During the siege of Sarajevo (1992-95) Pasovic spent most of the time in Sarajevo managing the MES International Theatre Festival. He directed plays and produced several shows, among others “Waiting for Godot”, directed by Susan Sontag. In 1993, during the siege, he established the Sarajevo Film Festival subtitled "Beyond the End of the World." After the war he worked in documentaries for several years. In 2002, he made a spectacular comeback to theatre directing Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” in front of the Parliament of Bosnia and Herzegovina in downtown Sarajevo. Pasovic has received many awards including the Best Director Award at the MES International Theatre Festival, Sarajevo; the Best Director at BITEF, Belgrade; the Best Yugoslav Director, UCHIMURA Prize, the Best Director at the Festival of Bosnian Theatres, etc. In 2005, Pasovic established the East West Theatre Company. He directed William Shakespeare's «Hamlet» as the biggest regional co-production in the last 20 years with an international cast. In 2007, Pasovic adapted and directed “Class Enemy” by Nigel Williams that was one of the highlights of Edinburgh International Festival, Singapore Arts Festival, Sibiu International Festival, International Theatre Festival Kontakt and many others. Pasovic is the co-founder of the Directing Department at the Performing Arts Academy. He is also professor at the IEDC Bled School of Management. Currently, Pasovic is directing a dance-theatre piece “Football, Football” which will have a world premiere at the Singapore Arts festival in May 2010. The European premiere will take place in June 2010 at the opening of the Napoli Teatro Festival Italia in Naplers, Italy.

Cast:
Mirjana Karanović – Marlene Dietrich
Mona Muratović – Ms. Prosecutor, Summer school teacher, Marilyn Monroe, A German Woman, Chorus of Citizens of Berlin, The Kappes
Elmir Krivalić – Andre Malraux, Thomas Langhoff, Mr. Prosecutor without a mustache, Mother of other girls, Her Prill, John F. Kennedy, Leader of the SPD Parliamentary Group, Chorus of Citizens of Berlin
Enes Salković – The Mayor of Berlin, Mr. Prosecutor with a mustache, Mother of other girls, Bodyguard of John F. Kennedy, Doctor, Baron von Welczech, Representative of the Greens, Ernest Hemingway, The Kappes, Chorus of Citizens of Berlin

Scenography: Lada Maglajlić, Vedad Orahovac
Costumes: Irma Saje i Vanja Ciraj
Music: Dino Šukalo
Video: Dino Hujić
Lighting design: Branislav Milinković
Graphic design: Bernard Pavlinović

Co-production partners: Mittelfest Cividale with BNP Zenica

*Ticket price: 900 RSD (reduced price: 600 RSD)*

Photos: Velija Hasanbegović

Duration: 01:35

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