ROOTS

A middle-aged man, S., wakes up in an almost empty (virtual) room (Villa Iseh reference). At first he knows neither who he is nor where he is. In the sense of Balinese traditions, it may be assumed that this is a reincarnation of Walter Spies.

The film lives from the presence of the past in the present, the dead among the living. S., the ghost, experiences a series of encounters in Bali that have a documentary character and report on cultural life on the island today. In the process, he meets a number of local artists of different genres and generations who take him to places and engage him in stories connected to the life of the artist Walters Spies and refer to the cultural and social development the island has taken through the influence of tourism, political new beginnings, cultural globalisation and the Balinese resistance to a commercial appropriation of their culture.

  • Michael Schindhelm
    Director
  • Michael Schindhelm
    Writer
  • Lavapolis
    Producer
  • Ni Nyoman Clara Lista Dewi
    Key Cast
  • Putu Eka Guna
    Key Cast
  • Dayu Ani Jirah
    Key Cast
  • Dewa Ayu Eka Putri
    Key Cast
  • Made Bayak
    Key Cast
  • Tutangkas Hiranmayena Putu
    Key Cast
  • Gus Dark
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Feature
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 40 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    November 17, 2024
  • Country of Origin:
    Switzerland
  • Country of Filming:
    Indonesia
  • Language:
    Indonesian
  • Shooting Format:
    Black Magic, Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Black & White and Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Distribution Information
  • First Hand Films
    Distributor
    Country: Switzerland
    Rights: All Rights
Director Biography - Michael Schindhelm

Born in 1960 in Eisenach, Germany. Studied Quantum Chemistry in Voronezh (former Soviet Union). Translator of Russian literature to German (Tchekhov, Gogol, Gorki, Mandelshtam). He is film director, novelist, writer and publisher, performing arts expert and cultural advisor for international organisations. Visiting teacher on various universities in Europe and Asia. He was the founding director of the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, and was previously the CEO of Theater Basel from 1996-2003 and General Director of the Berlin Opera Foundation (2005-2007). He is based in Italian-speaking Switzerland.
Filmography
(a selection)
Director

2024
Roots by Michael Schindhelm
2024
Jetzt Song by Michael Schindhelm
2023
In the Mood for Art by Michael Schindhelm
2021
Mit Lichtgeschwindigkeit zum Impfstoff – Das Projekt BioNTech by Michael Schindhelm
2021
Outland by Michael Schindhelm
2016
The Chinese Lives Of Uli Sigg by Michael Schindhelm
2008
Bird's Nest by Christoph Schaub, Michael Schindhelm
2003
Das Lied von der Steppe by Michael Schindhelm

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