IM SCHATTEN DER BILDER

IN THE PAINTINGS’ SHADOW

This documentary depicts the extraordinary life of expressionist artist Stephanie Hollenstein. Her life is characterized by opposites: born into an impoverished peasant family in Lustenau she rises to influential status within Vienna’s art world. Living openly as a homosexual woman when it was still criminalized, she becomes president of the Association of Women Artists of Austria. Driven by extraordinary willpower she even disguises herself as a man to be able to join the armed forces in World War 1.

At first glance, it is a heroine‘s story. Until she joins the banned Nazi Party in 1934, whose ideals she remains faithful to until her death in 1944. The documentary follows Hollenstein‘s professional and personal life in the context of the political and economic conditions of her time. Her story and the clear parallels to our present allow for reflection.

Birgitta Weizenegger © private
Birgitta Weizenegger © private
photos © WeizeneggerFilm
  • Genre
    Biopic, Experimental, History
  • CATEGORY
    Documentary
  • YEAR OF PRODUCTION
    2025
  • DIRECTOR
    Birgitta Weizenegger
  • SCREENPLAY
    Birgitta Weizenegger
  • DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
    Birgitta Weizenegger
  • SOUND
    Soundscape Studio Leipzig
  • CAST
    Irina Wrona, Louisa Sophie Egger, Nina Schedlmayer, Sabine Plakolm-Forsthuber, Georgia Holz, Oliver Heinzle, Alwin Rohner, Hannes Sulzenbacher
  • PRODUCER
    Birgitta Weizenegger
  • PRODUCTION COMPANY
    WeizeneggerFilm
  • RUNTIME
    90 min
  • LANGUAGE
    German, English
  • SALES
    WeizeneggerFilm
    weizeneggerb@gmail.com