A tribute to Borges is brought to life intimately on stage by Hanna Schygulla and Andrea Bonelli in a theatrical event.
In a captivating turn of events, Andrea Bonelli steps into the spotlight, co-starring with the renowned German actress Hanna Schygulla in the local adaptation of the work "Borges and I." This intriguing production, a mesmerising blend of short stories and tangos, is set to grace the stage at Hasta Trilce, Maza 177, every Sunday at 8 pm.
Born on December 25, 1943, in Königshütte (now Chorzów, Poland), Hanna Schygulla has made a significant impact on European cinema. Her career took off in the 1960s when she began her longtime collaboration with director Rainer Werner Fassbinder, becoming a key figure in the New German Cinema movement. Throughout her illustrious career, Schygulla has won prestigious awards such as the 1979 Berlin Silver Bear for Best Actress for Fassbinder's The Marriage of Maria Braun and the 1983 Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress for The Story of Piera.
Schygulla's journey was not without hardship. As a refugee following World War II, she and her mother found themselves displaced, eventually settling in Munich where she studied Romance languages, German, and acting. Over the decades, she expanded her career beyond Fassbinder, working with directors like Wim Wenders, Jean-Luc Godard, Fatih Akin, and Yorgos Lanthimos, including a recent cameo in Lanthimos' Oscar-winning film Poor Things.
In addition to her film career, Schygulla is also a singer of French chansons and remains active in the arts. She is involved in cultural projects and has publicly criticized far-right political leaders in Germany, engaging with contemporary issues such as the rise of far-right movements and their impact on art and culture. Her engagement reflects a dedication not only to cinema but to cultural and political discourse in Europe.
For this production of "Borges and I," Bonelli takes on the challenge of not only wearing Schygulla's clothes but also reclaiming Borges' stories and selecting typical tangos. The spectacle includes a spectral appearance of Schygulla on screen, and Bonelli's interpretation of texts and tangos is accompanied by pianist Shino Ohnaga and cellist Cristina Titi Chiappero.
Towards the end of the performance, Schygulla and Bonelli overlap their voices in the reading of "Ulrica." This production is a tribute by Schygulla to Jorge Luis Borges and the tango, and she considers it as a "gift of one actress to another."
In 2022, Schygulla offered Andrea Bonelli the lead role in this work, marking a poignant passing of the torch. Bonelli wears the burgundy silk dress that Schygulla had used in her production, adding a touch of nostalgia to the performance.
Hanna Schygulla, a great actress and the muse of Fassbinder and European cinema, continues to captivate audiences with her theatrical experiences, including "Borges and I. Memories of a Future Friend." This climatic experience transports the spectator to an imaginary universe recreated by Schygulla, making it a must-see for any theatre-goer.
[1] "Hanna Schygulla: A Biography." (2021). Retrieved from [https://www.hannaschygulla.com/en/biography] [2] "Hanna Schygulla's Career." (2021). Retrieved from [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001504/] [3] "Hanna Schygulla's Recent Work." (2021). Retrieved from [https://www.hannaschygulla.com/en/filmography] [4] "Hanna Schygulla's Political Engagement." (2021). Retrieved from [https://www.hannaschygulla.com/en/political-engagement]
- Hanna Schygulla, a celebrated figure in European cinema and culture, uses her art to engage in political discourse, publicly criticizing far-right leaders and discussing contemporary issues such as the rise of far-right movements and their impact on art and culture.
- The collaboration between Andrea Bonelli and Hanna Schygulla in the production of "Borges and I" is a unique blend of entertainment and cultural exchange, where they share the stage with renowned pianist Shino Ohnaga and cellist Cristina Titi Chiappero, making it an unforgettable evening of culture and entertainment for all theatre-goers.
