What Shall We Do Without Death

Over a period of six months, Elfi Mikesch interviewed and filmed the residents of a retirement home in Hamburg. She captures these moments and life stories in a poetic way.

The film tells the stories of elderly people who are largely overlooked by the outside world. It also features the story of two elderly women who have found each other in this retirement home. In addition, there is a young couple—Barbara, Steven, and their child—who have come to this retirement home in Hamburg for an indefinite period to care for the residents. Despite a few missteps, they carry out their duties with great warmth and humor. Viewers gain insight into the typical daily routine of a nursing home, which, however, strays from the norm thanks to the unconventional support provided by the director. Through the friendly and tender interactions between the “newcomers” and the “elders,” a form of communication begins that is not usually found in nursing homes due to staff shortages or lack of interest. In the film, the melancholy triggered by the confrontation with “everyday” frailty is given equal weight to the clear moments of strength and joie de vivre. A plea for the possibilities of individual self-realization beyond all age limits. – Elfi Mikesch

Elfi Mikesch, a cinematographer and director who has won numerous awards for her visual imagery, is considered one of the early pioneers of feminist-queer film. In her documentary work, she focuses on people and projects that fall outside the bounds of the norm, telling their stories of the search for identity and individual self-realization.