Thomas Bernhard

This film reveals, under the image of the provocative, misanthropic Austrian writer whose life was peppered with scandals and altercations, a funny and cheerful character, a "ruthless anarchist".

"The Theater-creaters" - About the actor Bruscon, who stops in the small village of Utzbach on tour and tries to successfully bring his play "Das Rad der Geschichte/The Wheel of History" on stage. His whole family - the wife, son and daughter - are involved as actors.

A short, graphically dynamic work contrasting contradictory views of perception and interpretation, by way of society's assumptions vis-a-vis phallocentrism and fetishism.

Thomas Bernhard in Madrid.

Thomas Bernhard on Mallorca.

A quiet, unassuming man sentenced to a long term in a maximum-security prison uses his time to study and begins to write cryptic short stories.

The bark-beetle has invaded the big forest of the general, just as a fatal illness has into the body of its owner. The general is suffering from eye cataract, preventing him from seeing the symptoms of the trees' decline, just as he is unable to see his own rottening. His wife and the writer discuss these circumstances for two scenes, until the general discovers the fact himself in the third one. Now he is going to take appropriate action.

The lord of the castle is found shot. His sister takes care of the appropriate wake, a firearm-happy guest from Spain romps around in the walls. An Italian listens to records of Bartók. The police doesn't appear.

This portrait of the great Austrian writer combines a brilliant monologue delivered by Thomas Bernhard and the artful film work of Ferry Radax. The location chosen for three summer days is a park in Hamburg full of huge old trees. While sitting on a white bench, Bernhard talks about dark childhood memories, his youth, and his struggles with writing. A striking element is his high praise of obstacles as "material for the brain."