The neighbour, the painter, who tattooed man without a driver’s licence, who could love, who liked music, who travelled to other countries and always accepted his fate. And: Children should never be sent out to do the shopping.
(Karen Lottje)

director of photography: Andreas Gockel bvk
colour grading and sound design: Ulf Wrede
concept, editing, production: Petra Lottje 2025

ST: english/german

press kit

Trailer

Videostills

Michael Weissbach was born in West Berlin in 1950 and grew up in a working-class environment marked by the aftermath of the Second World War and the political tensions of a divided city. In a family where alcohol and emotional coldness dominated everyday life, he sought support early on – and found it first in drugs and alcohol, later in travel, music and the urge to break out. He has long since accepted and reflected on his overweight body and the uncertainty of his origins. And it is precisely this, coupled with Berlin humour, that has shaped his lifelong sensitivity to social exclusion, societal divisions and, not least, a strong inner attitude towards life.
His biography is also a mirror of post-war West German society: the transition from rebellion to resignation, from addiction to insight. After a liver transplant, he begins to see his life in a new light – not as a victim, but as a survivor and witness to history. The great love that never came to fruition is emblematic of everything that was never fulfilled – both privately and socially.
The film stays entirely with Michael Weissbach, in his flat, in his language, with his humour – and deliberately dispenses with music in order to follow the rhythm of his narrative. Major themes structure his life: family, friendship, body, addiction, travel, music, loss and love. It becomes clear that Micha represents not only a personal destiny, but also a generation whose history is closely linked to the social and political upheavals of West Berlin.
This documentary portrait is an invitation to listen – and a quiet political commentary on life in a city that left many behind.

61 minutes © Petra Lottje 2025

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WIR GLAUBEN is an observation. In the middle of a sentence, or rather at the beginning of a sentence, ‘we’ use the words ‘I believe’ – you could almost think that ‘we’ don’t know that much. Whenever I noticed these words and sat in front of a screen with my mobile phone whose media content could be stopped and repeated, I recorded it. WIR GLAUBEN currently consists of around 280 clips in just under 4 minutes.

Overview of some of the protagonists:

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ProtagonistInnen wurden gebeten, ihre Hände, einer leichten Choreographie folgend, vor der Kamera zu bewegen. In starken Schwarzweißaufnahmen konzipiert, sehen wir, wie diese Hände einander begegnen, sich suchen, finden, andere Menschen berühren. Charaktere lassen sich erahnen, Temperamente, Persönlichkeiten. In dieser experimentellen Arbeit treffen Menschen unterschiedlichen Alters, verschiedener Herkunft, unabhängig von ihrer sexuellen Orientierung friedlich aufeinander. Ein Ausnahmezustand?

Regie: Petra Lottje
Bildgestaltung: Andreas Gockel b.v.K

Videostills

AUSNAHMEZUSTAND Trailer

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Cooking. For few guests. Corona.

Idea, Camera, Editing: Petra Lottje
Music, Sounddesign: Norbert Riechmann

Videostills

Kochen für wenig Gäste | Cooking for few guests

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the love for head-creatures

I chose a character that is drawn by young children when they start drawing people. In 3 episodes I tell in a simple way what can happen when a childhood doesn’t go well. Originally it was the story of a German artist, Horst Janssen. It can be transferred to many, mostly male characters. When insults are not processed (scene 1), the child in the man provokes the conflict (scene 2). It ends in white noise – Scene 3.

Music, Sounddesign: Norbert Riechmann

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*Play a game. Deceive your self and others. Be an artist.*
(Paul Klee, Diaries 1898 – 1918)

I repeat a sentence in sync until I believe it myself. Or did I believe it before? Is that correct? Past, presence, future. “We should have understood sooner that we were already happy. And then the beauty would have lasted longer. I miss him.”

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(english version coming soon)

Mit experimenteller Symbolik beschreibt der Film Phasen der Konfrontation und des Kraftschöpfens, dem Beschreiten eines neuen Weges.

Animation: Petra Lottje
Musik, Sounddesign: Norbert Riechmann

Videostills:

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WORK IN PROGRESS

Animated clips.

Videostill_Resilienz_1_40sek, 2018
Technische Unterstützung 3-D-Animation: Lutz Garmsen

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“Blind Spots” is based on a true story. It is a matter of a woman who left alone her two babies 1999 in her apartment, where they died of thirst.
It was a scandal in the media back then.
I have freed this story from spatial and personal attributions.
I say: it can happen anytime, anywhere.

Actress: Zohar Frank
Voices: Petra Lottje, Norbert Riechmann

Videostills:

The post Blind Spots first appeared on Petra Lottje.

Chongqing could be positioned for both strong population and economic growth.
The city has grand plans.
I am deeply impressed in different ways – QUESTIONS TO THE MOON is the thoughtful result after a two week stay in this city.

Idea, Camera, Editing: Petra Lottje
Music, Sounddesign: Nikolaus Garmsen
Actor: Elke Graalfs (walking woman)
Location: Chongqing, China

with friendly support:

Videostills

问月_QUESTIONS TO THE MOON

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