Rosa von Praunheim

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Rosa von Praunheim (stage name of Holger Bernhard Bruno Mischwitzky born November 25, 1942 in Riga, Latvia) is a German film director and gay rights activist. He is considered to be the most important representative of the postmodern German film. Especially his documentary film „It's Not the Homosexual Who is Perverse, but the Situation in Which He Lives“ („Nicht der Homosexuelle ist pervers, sondern die Situation, in der er lebt“) from 1970 made him to one of the initiators of the gay rights movement in Germany.

His films have featured such personalities as Jayne County, Vaginal Davis, Divine and Jeff Stryker.

1 Biography
2 Books
3 Selected filmography
4 External links

[edit] Biography

Von Praunheim grew up as Holger Mitschwitzki in East Berlin. He flew in 1953 with his family to West Germany, first to the Rhineland and moved later to Frankfurt am Main. After Praunheim left the classical language high school in Frankfurt (Humanistisches Gymnasium), he studied at the Werkkunstschule in Offenbach. He transfered then to the Berlin University of the Arts where he studied fine arts but did not graduated.

In the 1960s, he debuted with experimental and short movies, like „Samuel Beckett“ (1969), with which he became soon famous. In the mid sixties, he assumes the stage name „Rosa von Praunheim“, a combination from the Frankfurt quarter Praunheim and the pink triangle which homosexual prisoners had to wear in concentration camps. Praunheim married the actress Carla Aulaulu in 1969, two years later is the divorce.

Praunheim's first big feature film was produced in 1970: „Die Bettwurst“ became a cult movie, which had a sequel in 1973 („Berliner Bettwurst“). In the same year, he also caused a stir with his documentary „It's Not the Homosexual Who is Perverse, but the Situation in Which He Lives“ („Nicht der Homosexuelle ist pervers, sondern die Situation, in der er lebt“) which led to foundings of several gay rights groups.

At December 10th 1991, Praunheim created a scandal in Germany when he characterized amongst others the anchorman Alfred Biolek, the comedian Hape Kerkeling and wrongly the actor Götz George in the TV show „Explosiv - Der heiße Stuhl“ as gay. After the show several celebs had their coming out.

1979 Praunheim obtained the German Film Award for „Tally Brown“, and 1999 the Geisendörfer Medienpreis for „Wunderbares Wrodow“.

In 30 years, Prunheim produced more than 50 films. Besides homosexuality, subjects were older, vital women (for example Evelyn Künneke and Lotti Huber) and since the later 1980s the AIDS prevention.

Until 2006, Rosa von Praunheim taught directing at the Film & Television Academy (HFF) “Konrad Wolf” Potsdam-Babelsberg. He lives in Berlin.

[edit] Books

Männer, Rauschgift und der Tod. 1967
Oh Muvie. 1968, Fotoroman mit Elfie Mikesch
Sex und Karriere. Rowohlt TB-V., 1978, ISBN 3-499-14214-7
Armee der Liebenden oder Aufstand der Perversen. 1979, ISBN 3-881-67046-7
Gibt es Sex nach dem Tode. Prometh Verlag, 1981, ISBN 3-922-00930-1
Rote "Liebe" : ein Gespräch mit Helga Goetze.. Prometh Verl., 1982, ISBN 3-922-00947-6
50 Jahre pervers. Die sentimentalen Memoiren des Rosa von Praunheim.. Verlag Kiepenheuer & Witsch, 1993, ISBN 3-462-02476-0
Folge dem Fieber und tanze: Briefwechsel mit Mario Wirz. Aufbau-Verlag, 1995
Mein Armloch. Martin Schmitz Verlag, 2002, Gedichte
Die Rache der alten dicken Tunte. 2006, Fotobuch
Die Bettwurst und meine Tante Lucy. 2006, Fotobuch

[edit] Selected filmography

1969: Schwestern der Revolution
1970: Die Bettwurst
1970: Nicht der Homosexuelle ist pervers, sondern die Situation, in der er lebt
1973: Berliner Bettwurst
1973: Axel von Auersperg
1972-76: Armee der Liebenden oder Aufstand der Perversen
1980: Rote Liebe
1981: Unsere Leichen leben noch
1983: Stadt der verlorenen Seelen
1984: Horror vacui
1985: Ein Virus kennt keine Moral
1987: Anita - Tänze des Lasters
1989: Überleben in New York
1992: Ich bin meine eigene Frau
1995: Neurosia - 50 Jahre pervers
1999: Der Einstein des Sex
1999: Can I Be Your Bratwurst, Please?
1999: Wunderbares Wrodow
2001: Tunten lügen nicht
2002: Kühe vom Nebel geschwängert
2002: Pfui Rosa!
2005: Dein Herz in meinem Hirn