Die Arbeiterinnen verlassen die Fabrik

The title of the early silent film Workers Leaving the Lumière Factory in Lyon essentially tells us everything we need to know. Its contemporary variation is more ambiguous. While we initially make out indistinct figures in a seemingly endless corridor, we finally see their faces up close. Using a precise formal concept, the director not only treats cultural memory, harking back to one of the most celebrated works in film history, but she is also quick to make use of the medium’s appeal, establishing a compelling rhythm to enhance footage of an ostensibly banal event. (Karlovy Vary International Film Festival)