Pride Guide 1999 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE

Monika Treut to speak at library's series of her films

by Juana DeBoyce

Cleveland-From June 12 through June 15, the Cleveland Publie Library downtown will host a series on the films of German lesbian filmmaker Monika Treut. The series is being sponsored by the Cleveland Center for Contemporary Art and the AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland.

A recent winner at the Berlin film festival, Treut will be in town to answer questions after every screening. All films are free, but no one under 18 will be admitted.

Perhaps no other medium immediately documents the journey of contemporary identity like film. For over two decades, Treut has captured the guts and glam of sex and self in her works.

Born in Monchengladbach, Germany in 1954, Treut studied literature and politics at Phillips University in Marburg and graduated in 1978. She completed her Ph.D. thesis, The Cruel Woman: Female Images in the Writing of Marquis de Sade and Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, in 1982.

In 1984, she co-founded Hyena I/II, a film production company, with cinematographer Elfi Mikesch. Since that time, Treut has been producing, writing, and directing independent features. In addition, she has been a visiting professor at a number of colleges and universities throughout the United States. In 1992, she founded Hyena Films (Hamburg).

Treut's films-including The Virgin Machine, My Father is Coming, Didn't Do It For Love and her latest, Gendernauts have been a fixture on the international circuit for a number of years and will be highlighted in the upcoming festival.

Juana DeBoyce: You've worked with fascinating, controversial, and provocative people in your films. Who else would you like to work with?

Monika Treut: The people mostly present themselves to me. That is the way I work: I never have plans. I just live and travel and

DIDN'T DO 17 FOR LOVE

meet people, and then the situation presents itself to me.

In addition to your filmmaking, you also lecture and teach at universities. What do you bring to the classroom?

My experience in the crazy and everchanging world of indie or undie filmmaking.

What do you feel about being a role model for kids who want to work in the film industry?

If they want to work in the film industry, I am definitely not a role model... Are you kidding?

What do you get from your students? Education about American and pop cul-

ture.

You've lived in the United States for extended periods, but you always return to Europe. Do you ever see yourself settling in the States permanently? Why or why not?

I am transcultural; that is one source of inspiration. I return to Europe or Germany because of the better health insurance there. U.S. permanently? Look at the role the U.S. is playing in the war in Yugoslavia, even worse than Germany, France, Italy or England.

What age group, younger or older, responds best to your films?

It is the same mixed audience everywhere: young punks to white-haired fellows, queers, artists a great mix. Mix is what I like.

Do you notice a difference between American and European audiences?

U.S. audiences ask better questions after the show; Europeans are more shy.

The titles of your films are always ex-

tremely provocative. Is this for publicity

and marketing purposes?

Sure, sex sells. But I have to be careful since really the films are not only about sex...(sigh)... some are not at all. Finding titles is the hardest, but I do have some inventive friends who sometimes come up with splendid ideas.

What does European Monika say about American Monica?

Poor chick, man. Nothing much else going on for her. Okay, at least she is making

'THE BREWMASTER'S HOUSE

some money now, but I figure the sex she has got from Mr. Prez was not very thrilling. Poor babe, she should try a dynamic dyke.

If you had to ask yourself a question about you, what would it be?

Why am I going to the trouble of making non-mainstream low-budget films for sick people like you and me instead of having a decent living breeding horses and dogs in New Mexico?

The title of your film Didn't Do It For Love would be great on anyone's tombstone. If you didn't do it for love, what did you do it for?

I am afraid I did do it for love. Any ideas about what you would like your tombstone to say?

She paid her bills. No. Hmm... I do not know yet. I hope I can be around for a little bit longer.

For more information about the Monika Treut film series, call 216-421-8671, ext. 36.

Juana DeBoyce conducted the above interview for the free art and AIDS magazine sway. Reprinted with permission from the publisher. Sway's "Pride & Shame" issue comes out this June.

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