Cathedrals of Culture/Kathedralen der Kultur

In 2014, Wim Wenders initiated a major project with films by six internationally known directors (including one woman). Cultural buildings of architectural significance should tell stories from their own perspective. A plan that doesn't always work. Michael Glawogger chooses the Russian National Library in Saint Petersburg. As you experience the winding interior of the building, you will hear quotes from Russian literature. The books whisper “Read me.” Thousands upon thousands of volumes sleep here on endless shelves. It is inconceivable that many of them will ever be opened or even read again. Young women rush back and forth in long corridors, while older women sit down and take notes. Otherwise this heart of the library is empty. Kafka's texts will also be stored somewhere and J. L. Borges' library will be described as a guide. A paradise for everyone who loves books. This is Glawogger's last film completed for the cinema during his lifetime. A legacy? No. But the wonderful film also speaks of beauty, loss and sadness. (Birgit Flos)

Photo: Austrian Film Museum