3-10 Sep ‘23
 
Rus

The Waldheim Waltz (2018)

The Waldheim Waltz
12+
  • Country:

    Austria

  • Duration:

    93 min

  • Program:

    Competition, 5th MJFF

  • Type:

    Documentary, Feature

  • Genre:

    history

  • Director:

    Ruth Beckermann

  • Producer:

    Ruth Beckermann

  • Cast:

    Kurt Waldheim, Ruth Beckermann

About film

This film tells a story about "alternative truth" and a dishonest man coming into power. The director documents the process of uncovering the secrets of the military past of Kurt Waldheim, the Secretary-General of the United Nations. When Waldheim decided to run for the President of Austria, the World Jewish Congress brought forward a number of accusations against him. Austrian political elite kept denying the charges, there was a surge of antisemitism and patriotism, and in the end, Waldheim was elected. The film is created with unique materials and recordings made by Beckermann herself during the protests of 1986.

Rewards and nominations

  • Atlanta Jewish Film Festival 2019 - Jury Prize
  • Austrian Film Award, AT 2019 - Austrian Film Award
  • Berlin International Film Festival 2018 - Glasshütte Original Documentary Award
  • Diagonale, Austria 2018 - Official Selection
  • DocAviv Film Festival 2018 - Best International Film - Honorable Mention
  • Jihlava International Documentary Film Festival 2018 - Official Selection
  • Palm Springs International Film Festival 2019 - Official Selection
  • Sheffield International Documentary Festival 2018 - Official Selection
  • Stockholm Film Festival 2018 - Official Selection

Director

Ruth Beckermann
Ruth Beckermann was born in Vienna where she also spent her childhood. After her studies in journalism and history of art in Vienna, Tel Aviv and New York, she took her degree as Dr.phil in 1977 at the University of Vienna. She since contributed as a journalist to several Austrian and Swiss magazines. In 1978 she (co-)founded the distribution company filmladen in which she was active for seven years. In this period Ruth Beckermann started to make films and to write books. Since 1985 she works as a writer and filmmaker. Her film THE DREAMED ONES was selected at many international festivals and won several awards. Beckermanns current project THE WALDHEIM WALTZ was presented in 2018.

Along with
Discussion. Alternative history

Along with
Discussion. Alternative history

Trailer

Director

Ruth Beckermann
Ruth Beckermann was born in Vienna where she also spent her childhood. After her studies in journalism and history of art in Vienna, Tel Aviv and New York, she took her degree as Dr.phil in 1977 at the University of Vienna. She since contributed as a journalist to several Austrian and Swiss magazines. In 1978 she (co-)founded the distribution company filmladen in which she was active for seven years. In this period Ruth Beckermann started to make films and to write books. Since 1985 she works as a writer and filmmaker. Her film THE DREAMED ONES was selected at many international festivals and won several awards. Beckermanns current project THE WALDHEIM WALTZ was presented in 2018.