Stefan Ludwig

She was perhaps the most unusual empress of the 19th century. Elisabeth of Austria, known as Sisi to the Habsburg family. At the age of 36 this tall, dark beauty refused to be photographed so that she could remain forever a legend. From that moment, she became a mystery. Escaping the straitjacket of royal life, Habsburg etiquette and the obligations of Europe’s biggest continental empire, she set out on a journey to find herself – an act of self-definition that makes her an idol even today – and yet she remains an enigma. Imagine: a member of Europe’s most traditional dynasty, with an anchor tattooed on her shoulder in a Greek tavern; an empress sailing hundreds of miles from her throne across the Mediterranean, tied to the mast in stormy seas. Monarch of a dozen nations, she built herself a gigantic dream house on the Island of Corfu – the Achilleion, a picturesque palace full of references to Greek mythology – named after the hero of the Trojan war, Achilles. Who is really behind the myth of sweet Sisi? What is the real story behind an imperial life? The unexpected discovery of her chief of staff’s diaries enables this blue chip documentary to take a brand new look at Elisabeth’s life. These notes of Count Warsberg – who was an expert in Greek antiquity and also her confidant – may solve the last secrets of one of the most fascinating and popular personalities of recent European history.

János Orsós stammt aus einer Roma-Familie. Er ist Lehrer. Und er ist Buddhist. In einem ungarischen Dorf hat er eine buddhistische Schule gegründet. Sein Ziel: Teenager aus den ärmsten Roma-Ghettos sollen es auf die Universitäten schaffen. Sein Vorbild: der Aufbruch der Unberührbaren in Indien – Mutterland der Roma und des Buddhismus. Der zornige Buddha beobachtet über fast drei Jahre János‘ unbeirrbaren Kampf gegen alle Widerstände. Zugleich zeichnet der Film liebevolle und ungeschminkte Portraits der Roma-Jugendlichen, die in einer Welt voller Elend und Vorurteil mit Witz und Lebensenergie ihren Weg suchen.

Knocking on doors and asking for donations at private homes – this is the job of professional fundraisers. They get paid according to their success. The documentary follows a young fundraising team of the Malteser Relief Organization through a summer full of ups and downs.

Seven young Austrians, two Germans and one Hungarian work as paid fundraisers for the Malteser Relief Organization, an organization similar to the Red Cross, in the backwoods of Bavaria. It looks like a holiday camp, but it is hard work. Every morning they drive to their designated area, walk, walk, walk and ring houndreds of door bells trying to reach the hearts of the citizens. Their mission is to convince as many people as possible to make an annual donation to the organization by direct debit. They get paid according to their results. If they don’t inscribe any new members, they don’t earn a cent. This game has winners and losers. Some give up, while others quickly become clever sales people of charity.