woman/mother
A documentary by Klara Harden
KINOTOUR Österreich
20.05. Rechbauerkino Graz - Mittwoch um 18:00
Tickets für Graz: https://www.filmzentrum.com/programm/
woman/mother
Mara has felt lonely and cut off from her creativity since the birth of her child. Now her son is older. Together with director and friend Klara, she plans a dance performance at last. Then, she becomes pregnant again. Back to square one. The two try to adapt the performance to the new circumstances. But Mara feels so consumed by motherhood that there’s no strength, inspiration, or time left for creative expression.
A study on the search for creative freedom, the effort to remain true to oneself—and a film about a wonderful, creatively empowering female friendship.
woman/mother
Seit der Geburt ihres Kindes fühlt sich Mara einsam und von ihrer Kreativität abgeschnitten. Nun ist ihr Sohn älter. Gemeinsam mit der Regisseurin und Freundin Klara plant sie endlich eine Tanzperformance. Doch dann wird sie erneut schwanger. Zurück auf Null. Die beiden versuchen, die Performance an die neuen Umstände anzupassen. Doch Mara fühlt sich so sehr von der Mutterschaft in Anspruch genommen, dass ihr keine Kraft, keine Inspiration und keine Zeit mehr für kreativen Ausdruck bleibt.
Eine Studie über die Suche nach kreativer Freiheit, das Bestreben, sich selbst treu zu bleiben – und ein Film über eine wunderbare, kreativ beflügelnde weibliche Freundschaft.
WINNER Student Award DOK.fest Munich 2025
Achtung Berlin Filmfestival Official Selection Kasseler Dokfest Official Selection Berlin Indie Filmfestival Winner Best Director Dokumentarfilmpreis des Goethe-Instituts Nominiert Toronto International Women Film Festival Nominee LA Independent Women Film Awards Nominee
Mit
Mara, Alex, Ezra, Laszlo, Oma, Opa, Klara
Stab
Regie, Buch, Kamera Klara Harden Produktion Klara Harden & Daniel Haingartner Koproduzenten Deutsche Film- und Fernsehakademie Berlin GmbH Schnitt Clara Andres
Schnitt Tanzszenen Gal Yaron Mayersohn Schnittassistenz Juliette Ferrere Musik Valtteri Laurell Pöyhönen Sounddesign Sebastian Pablo Poloni Color Grading Susi Dollnig
Ton Daniel Haingartner Title Design Mara Novak Dramaturgische Beratung Barbara Pichler & Andres Veiel
Produktionsteam DFFB
Herstellungsleitung Andreas Louis Herstellungsleitung Assistenz Julia Geppert Finanzbuchhaltung Ines Raak Koordination Postproduktion Vivien Rosenberg
Postproduktion Olaf Högermeyer, Ingo Schumacher Kamera-/ Licht- /Tontechnik Stéphanie Frings & Peter Felder Studienleitung Bodo Knapheide Mischtonmeister Alexandre Leser
Gefördert von
DOK.fest Munich
JURY's statement
“The filmmaker took a risk: she looked where we as a society don't like to look and, together with her long-time friend and dance teacher Mara, exposes the demands and contradictions of motherhood. In a society that often makes mothers and their experiences invisible, but at the same time places high expectations on them, the film speaks honestly about feelings of guilt, about feeling flawed and inadequate, and about not loving the role of mother at all times. The director remains present when her friend's parental duties become overwhelming. She shows the isolation that spreads even within a functioning relationship and contrasts this with a strong female friendship. In doing so, she takes a critical look at her role as author and questions the extent to which she herself projects the capitalist-patriarchal expectations of functioning mothers onto her friend Mara.The formal approach, which combines dance performances with subtle observations of everyday family life, deals honestly with its imperfection. Instead of flawless images, the film focuses on the creative process of the two women friends – and the question of how a mother can stay true to herself when her own body is used, inhabited and appropriated by others. The film does not show the answer, no unreserved happy ending. It rather encourages us to look. We congratulate Klara Harden on winning the Student Award 2025 with her film woman/mother.”
