‘The Scarlett Letter’ Goethe Institute brings New German cinema back
View(s):The fourth film of the series of “Darkness before Light” presented by Goethe Institute features ‘The Scarlett Letter’, directed by Wim Wenders, one of the leading figures of New German Cinema. An adaptation of the Nathaniel Hawthorne novel The Scarlet Letter, the film plays in New England, the latter half of the 17th century: Hester Prynne is yet again set in the pillory and told she must reveal the name of her daughter’s father.
Until she does, she must wear the letter “A” on her clothing as a mark of shame. The doctor Roger Chillingworth appears, though nobody is aware that the stranger is Hester’s husband. He soon surmises the identity of the father of baby Pearl.
The 1973 German film stars Senta Berger as Hester Prynne, Hans Christian Blech as Roger Chillingworth, and Lou Castel as Rev. Dimmesdale.
Wenders explained that the experience of directing this, his second film, was the usual one which occurs with a new director. It is much more difficult and much less successful.
One of the biggest problems is that the interior shots were finished first.
Normally exteriors are shot first. These were shot at a studio in Cologne.
‘The Scarlett Letter’ (Der Scharlachrote Buchstabe) will be screened at 7 pm on February 7 at Goethe Hall, 39 Gregory’s Road, Colombo 7
