This movie, in terms of the breadth of its knowledge, is long overdue. It's difficult to extract the full scope and importance of Gottfried Leibniz from books. But experiencing him firsthand, so to speak, in "LEIBNIZ - Chronicle of a Lost Image", is impressive. You understand his philosophy, his work, and, not least, his sincerity in doing good for humanity.
The movie features many points, and his impact is clearly evident. For example, in the invention of a flexible hose for the fire department of the time. He personally witnessed an inn burn down because the fire department only had rigid wooden pipes at its disposal. However, this invention was not enough to completely solve the problem. He also invented the principle of the fire insurance fund, an insurance policy that even then allowed citizens to protect themselves against the consequences of fire. This example demonstrates his humane concern as the driving force behind his work.
The movie succeeds in drawing the viewer into Leibniz's essence simply through the creation of a portrait. A mind like Leibniz can't simply pose as a model for a portrait. He has to think and express his thoughts immediately. He engages with the painter, and so his first attempt with the then-famous court painter Delalandre fails miserably. Delalandre understands a portrait merely as an image, not as a representation of the essence.
The second painter, Aaltje van de Meer, is completely different. She attempts to understand Leibniz and connect his mind with herself. These are long, wonderful, and fascinating conversations. It's like a lived philosophical discourse with strong connections to real life. The movie can therefore be understood more as a theater play than as a cinematic work. This was also the intention of the casting process, which selected actors with extensive stage experience.
Edgar Selge is the ideal cast for Leibniz, and you not only believe him in the role, but also feel how thoroughly he has captured the essence of the thinker. Edgar Selge's naturalness and gruff warmth are the central points of the performance. He is joined by well-known theater greats such as Lars Eidinger and Barbara Sukowa. Both have a well-founded reputation, which resonates in the film. German acting can be great-especially in small-scale productions.
The cast of other actors is also very convincing, rounding out the deliberately small ensemble with Antonia Bill, Michael Kranz, and Aenne Schwarz. Their reactions are direct and natural. The characters' insights are authentic. Thus, as a viewer of the film, one takes with them the truth that a painted picture is not just a captured present. It is also a summary of the entire past up to the completion of the picture, and the discourse surrounding the picture has a lasting impact.
The movie "LEIBNIZ - Chronicle of a Lost Image" thus has a lasting impact. Both on the audience, who leaves the film with many new ideas, and on the world, which is forever reminded of Leibniz's greatness through this movie. An important theatrical work as a movie.
