The Department of German presents a guest lecture by Mariana Ivanova, Associate Professor of German at UMASS and Academic Director of DEFA Film Library
Solo Sunny (1979) creatively recounts the story of East Berlin pop singer, Sanije Torka (b. 1944) who flouts social expectations and the conventional promise of happiness. Directed by renowned filmmaker Konrad Wolf and script writer Wolfgang Kohlhaase, the film captures the legendary Berlin Prenzlauer Berg which in the 1980s became a hub for alternative, subversive, and experimental artists. This talk will address the film's resonance with women's and artist's life in totalitarian societies by also highlighting Sanije Torka's voice as captured in Alexandra Czok's 2009 documentary Solo for Sanije. The screening and talk are part of a series of events celebrating the Konrad Wolf Centennial in 2025-2026.
ºÚÁÏÉçÇø welcomes the full participation of all individuals in all aspects of campus life. Should you wish to request a disability-related accommodation for this event, please contact the event sponsor/coordinator. Requests should be made as early as possible.