Sisters, or the Balance of Happiness starring Jutta Lampe

Director: Margarethe Von Trotta

Amazon.com
Margarethe von Trotta came into her own as one of the most important voices of the New German Cinema with her second film, Sisters, or the Balance of Happiness, a work she once described as "a soul painting." Maria (Jutta Lampe), a coldly efficient executive secretary to a big-wheel tycoon, tries to impress her own ambitions and drive for success on her fragile sister, a sensitive art student who becomes smothered by Maria and takes her own life. Avoiding her feelings of guilt and loss, Maria takes on a surrogate sister in the form of a young typist in the secretarial pool and begins grooming her for success, deaf to the girl's personal ambitions and interest in a life outside of a job definition. Evocative compositions and von Trotta's growing visual style give a cinematic dimension to the exploration of the social web, and Lampe's intense performance centers the film as her goal-oriented professional is finally forced to confront herself and find the elusive "balance of happiness" that will bring her in touch with her dead sister. Less didactic and more introspective than her first film, The Second Awakening of Christa Klages, this is the work that brought her to the attention of the international film scene and marked her as one the most exciting and committed directors of her time.

Dr. Holleman Booksellers

contact

Amazon.com Hot 100
The 100 titles Amazon.com customers couldn't live without in the last 24 hours. Updated hourly.

Amazon.com Hot 100
Save up to 30% on the 100 bestselling music CD's at Amazon.com. Updated hourly.

Music Essentials

Our recommendations for the best CD's from the best artists.
Whether you're thinking of exploring an unfamiliar style or already building a focused collection, our Essentials pages can streamline your musical search. From alternative music to zydeco, bebop to hip-hop, the Essentials will lead you to the hundreds of artists and thousands of recordings that matter.

Amazon.com is pleased to have Dr. Holleman Booksellers in the family of Amazon.com associates. We've agreed to ship products and provide customer service for orders we receive through special links on Dr. Holleman Booksellers. Amazon.com associates list selected books and music in an editorial context that helps you make the right choice. We encourage you to shop at Dr. Holleman Booksellers often to see what new items they've selected for you. Thank you for shopping with an amazon.com associate. Sincerely, Jeff Bezos, President Amazon.com